For Residents

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the First Place Home Ownership Program come to be?
Is the First Place Home Ownership Program and First Time Homeowner Program the same program?
When will units be available for sale?
What process will I need to follow as an applicant to the program?
I’m a builder. When will the City be issuing the Request For Qualifications to participate in building First Place units?
Will there be a Request for Proposal process? And if so, when will it commence?
I notice that some new homes have sold prior to the 5 year deferral period. Why are some people leaving before the five year period is up?

1. How did the First Place Home Ownership Program come to be?: While these sites were designated as school sites at one point, the City approved them to be redeveloped in 2006. The First Place Program was created in partnership between the City of Edmonton, the Edmonton Public School Board, the Edmonton Catholic School District and the Government of Alberta to transform 20 vacant surplus school sites into new town homes for qualified homebuyers whose household income places them just out of reach of the first-time homebuyers market. This program is key to attracting and retaining new residents to Alberta and Edmonton.
2. Is the First Place Home Ownership Program and First Time Homeowner Program the same program?: Yes. The program was renamed in early 2011.
3. When will units be available for sale?: Homes in the first two sites developed – in Canon Ridge and Greenview – are all sold. Additional homes will be built on other sites after the selection of builders and the close of a Request For Proposals (RFP). Development of these sites is proposed to take place over the next ten years. First Place units will be available from the builders directly. Once new builders are selected, specific construction dates will be known. We anticipate new homes being available by Fall, 2012.
4. What process will I need to follow as an applicant to the program?: If you meet program eligibility requirements and qualify for a mortgage from a financial institution, you may contact any of the builders selected for Phase I construction. A list of the selected builders is anticipated to be posted on the website in March 2012 after the Request For Proposal process closes and builder selections are made.
5. I’m a builder. When will the City be issuing the Request For Qualifications to participate in building First Place units?: The Request For Qualifications (RFQ) opened on November 5, 2011 and is posted on www.purchasingconnection.ca. The RFQ closed on January 5, 2012.
6. Will there be a Request for Proposal process? And if so, when will it commence?: No. The City will be conducting interviews in early 2012 with those who qualified from the Request for Qualifications process. Builders will be selected based on their qualifications and the interviews.
7. I notice that some new homes have sold prior to the 5 year deferral period. Why are some people leaving before the five year period is up?: The First Place Program provides eligible buyers the opportunity to defer payment of land costs for up to five years so that more people may qualify to own their first home. Our pilot site experience has demonstrated that unforeseen circumstances occasionally arise that require some buyers to sell their homes before the 5 year deferral period has concluded. The City has worked with these individuals to accommodate these circumstances by paying out the deferred land payment earlier than expected.