Chapter 01
The short answer
A typical detached home in Hamilton and Burlington costs about $209,200 more than one in Edmonton ($778,972 vs $569,820). For many owners facing a higher payment at renewal, selling and buying in Edmonton can mean a much smaller mortgage, or none.
Chapter 02
If you're feeling this, you're not alone
You're not alone and you're not out of options. Start with the numbers, not the panic: we'll show you what your equity could do here.
Take the pressure off: a scouting weekend, video tours, and an honest list of what you'd miss. You can also rent first and buy once you know the city.
Price flights home into your budget. Lower housing costs often mean more trips back, not fewer.
Look at schools by address before you choose a home, and move in summer so they start fresh in September.
One plan, one timeline, one team in Edmonton. We line up the referral agent at home, the broker, inspector, lawyer and movers.
That's the point. A smaller mortgage (or none) can mean savings, a yard, a shorter commute, and room to enjoy life.
Chapter 03
The squeeze in Hamilton
Hamilton detached prices dropped about 9% in a year. Many people who moved there from Toronto in 2021 are now renewing at higher rates on a home worth less.
The Bank of Canada estimated that people renewing a 5-year fixed mortgage in 2026 could see payments rise about 20% compared with late 2024, and that about 60% of people renewing in 2025 and 2026 would pay more.
If this sounds like you, you're not alone, and you have choices. This page simply shows one of them with real numbers.
Chapter 04
What your money buys
Typical detached home
| Average detached price, Hamilton region, September 2026 | $778,972 (-9.0% in a year) |
|---|---|
| Average detached price, Edmonton, September 2026 | $569,820 (+2.8% in a year) |
| Difference | $209,200 |
The average for all home types was $714,420, down 7.9% in a year. Edmonton's average for all home types was $466,080 in September 2026.
Chapter 05
The sell-and-move math (an example)
Example only, made-up assumptions
| Sell your Hamilton home (example) | $779,000 |
|---|---|
| Selling costs, about 5% | - $38,900 |
| Mortgage you still owe (example: 60%) | - $467,000 |
| Cash left after the sale | $273,000 |
| Buy a typical Edmonton detached home | $569,820 |
| New Edmonton mortgage | $296,800 |
| Monthly payment on $467,000 (4.5%, 25 years) | $2,585/mo |
| Monthly payment on the new Edmonton mortgage (4.5%, 25 years) | $1,643/mo |
Assumptions: you owe 60% of today's value, selling costs are about 5%, and the rate is 4.5% over 25 years. Moving costs, legal fees and taxes are not included. Your numbers will be different, so run them with a mortgage broker. We can introduce you to one we trust.
Chapter 06
Sell first or buy first?
Four ways to time it
| Sell first, then buy | You know exactly what you have to spend and you avoid paying two mortgages. You may need a short rental or a long closing date. |
|---|---|
| Buy first, then sell | You lock in the Edmonton home you love. You may need bridge financing or a firm sale date. Ask your broker. |
| Line up both closings | Same-week possession dates on both homes. The smoothest option, but it needs careful timing. We plan it with your agent back home. |
| Rent first, buy later | Move, rent 6 to 12 months, and buy once you know which area fits. Less pressure, but one more move. |
Not sure? We map it out with you and your broker on a free call.
Chapter 07
Find your Edmonton match
If you like this in Hamilton, look at this in Edmonton
| In Hamilton | Try in Edmonton | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Westdale | Garneau, Windsor Park | Near the university, leafy streets |
| Locke Street / Kirkendall | Old Strathcona, Ritchie | Walkable main street, older homes |
| Ancaster / Dundas | Windermere, Riverbend | Larger homes, ravines and trails |
| Stoney Creek / Binbrook new builds | The Orchards, Walker | Newer homes, parks and schools |
Feel-alikes, not copies. Every area has its own mix of homes and prices.
Chapter 08
What you'd gain, what you'd miss
Honest pros and cons of leaving Hamilton
You'd gain
- More house for less, often with a double garage
- Less traffic
- Big parks and trails inside the city
You'd miss
- The escarpment trails and waterfalls
- Being an hour from Toronto
- Milder winters
- No land transfer tax in Alberta and no provincial sales tax, just the 5% GST.
- Alberta gained about 539,000 people from other provinces over 30 years, more than any other province (Fraser Institute study of Statistics Canada data).
- Winter is long and cold. Visit in January before you decide.
Chapter 09
Your move from Hamilton
The trip
| Distance | about 3,500 km |
|---|---|
| Drive time | 4 to 5 days of driving |
| Route | North around Lake Superior on Highway 17 or 11, then through Winnipeg and Saskatoon on the Yellowhead (Highway 16). |
| Moving cost | Full-service movers for a 3-bedroom home across Canada often quote about $6,000 to $12,000. Containers or shared trucks can cost less. |
Book movers 8 to 10 weeks ahead for summer. Prices are often lower in spring and fall.
Make the drive part of the adventure
- Lake Superior's north shore (Agawa Bay and Pukaskwa National Park)
- The Sleeping Giant lookout near Thunder Bay
- Kenora and Lake of the Woods
- The Forks in Winnipeg
- Saskatoon's riverbank trails
- Lloydminster, the city that sits on the Saskatchewan-Alberta border
Chapter 10
Make the move easier
8 to 12 weeks before
4 to 6 weeks before
1 to 2 weeks before
First month in Edmonton
Chapter 11
Your Alberta sign-ups
- Health care: register for Alberta Health Care within 3 months of moving. Coverage starts on the first day of the third month after you arrive. Until then, keep using your old province's health card (alberta.ca).
- Driver's licence and vehicle registration: done at any Alberta registry agent. Bring ID and proof of your Alberta address.
- Taxes: you file provincial tax for the province you live in on December 31. Moving costs can be tax-deductible if you move at least 40 km closer to a new job (CRA).
- Utilities: Alberta's electricity and natural gas are deregulated, so you choose a retailer. Compare plans before you sign.
- Schools: Edmonton Public Schools and Edmonton Catholic Schools both register online. Your address sets your designated school.
Chapter 12
Your first month: make it fun
- A first-weekend walk or bike ride in the river valley
- The Old Strathcona Farmers' Market on a Saturday
- A day trip to see the bison at Elk Island National Park, about 35 minutes east
- The Muttart Conservatory's glass pyramids
- Winter: skate the trails and catch the Deep Freeze festival in January
Chapter 13
How RealEstateYEG helps from far away
- A free 20-minute call to talk through your situation and timing.
- A trusted agent referral for your sale in Hamilton (we are licensed only in Alberta).
- Live video tours and neighbourhood drive videos before you fly in.
- A planned scouting weekend to see your top homes and areas in person.
- Inspection, lawyer, movers and your first-week checklist lined up locally.
Sources
Where these numbers come from
- WOWA Hamilton report (CREA and Cornerstone data)
- Bank of Canada, Staff Analytical Note 2025-21: How will mortgage payments change at renewal?
- CTV News / Canadian Press: Toronto, Vancouver show biggest signs of mortgage stress (CMHC), Feb 5 2026
- The Hub: Alberta gained 539,000 residents from other provinces over 3 decades (Fraser Institute study)
- Ratehub: Alberta has no land transfer tax
- WOWA Edmonton housing market report
- REALTORS® Association of Edmonton, September 2026 market release
- Alberta.ca: Apply for health care coverage if you move to Alberta
- MoveAdvisor: Vancouver to Edmonton movers (route cost data)
- HomeStars: How much does it cost to move across Canada
- Canada Revenue Agency: Moving expenses (line 21900)
General information only, not financial, mortgage, tax or legal advice. Prices are averages or benchmarks from the sources listed, as of the month shown. The money example uses made-up assumptions; your numbers will differ. Talk to a mortgage broker and a lawyer before you decide. RealEstateYEG.ca is Brent Deptuck, REALTOR®, licensed in Alberta with Real Broker.
