Key Takeaways

• Jayman BUILT is best for 8 solar panels standard on every new home, per the builder, with 10 solar panels in its Core Performance standard, per Built Green Canada, and a 2024 BILD Calgary Builder of the Year title.
• Homes By Creation is the best for custom homes with modern architecture, drawing on over 30 years of construction expertise and a  4.9/5 rating from 150+ Google reviews.
• Shane Homes is best for design-studio personalization, with a 5,000 sq. ft. design studio and support in more than 85 languages.
• Alberta's 1-2-5-10 warranty applies to all three builders, which makes reviews and standard features the real differentiators.

Homes By Creation, Jayman BUILT and Shane Homes answer three different questions a Calgary buyer might ask. Homes By Creation answers whether a modern home can fit your plans, Jayman answers how low your energy bills can go, and Shane answers how far you can personalize the finishes.

Two showhomes on the same street can offer very different trade-offs at a similar price. One may come with solar panels on the roof, while the other offers a modern plan built around your family's routine.

The three builders share long Alberta roots. Shane Homes dates to 1979, Jayman to 1980, and Homes By Creation's parent company has worked in Alberta real estate development since 1993.

What Separates These Three Calgary Builders in 2026

Four questions frame how the builders compare:

• What does the home cost to run? Standard features such as solar panels, insulation and certification affect every monthly utility bill.
• How much can you change? Builders range from finish selections only to plans adjusted around the buyer.
• What do owners say after possession? Public review scores, read with the patterns in written reviews, show how each builder follows through.
• What do judges and peers say? BILD Calgary Region and CHBA awards add an outside view.
  
  

Each profile below answers these four questions in turn.

How Energy Efficiency Changes the Cost of Owning a New Home

Energy efficiency shapes a new home's running costs for decades. Natural Resources Canada explains that airtight construction, better insulation and efficient heating systems lower utility bills while keeping a home free of drafts.

NRCan also links efficiency to resale value. It notes that newer windows and doors and high-efficiency appliances look great to buyers, and that investments in renewable energy such as solar panels can pay off for years to come.

Calgary's long heating season makes these features more valuable. A builder's standard specification matters as much as its upgrade list, because standard items reach every home on the street.

Jayman BUILT, Homes By Creation and Shane Homes Compared

1. Jayman BUILT - Best for solar-equipped, energy-efficient homes

Jayman BUILT has built homes in Alberta since 1980, when Jay Westman co-founded the company with his father, Al. It builds single-family homes, townhomes and apartment-style homes across Calgary and Edmonton. It includes solar in its standard specification. According to the builder, every new Jayman BUILT home comes with 8 solar panels of 500 watts each as standard. Built Green Canada credits Jayman with spearheading the program’s launch in 2003.

Jayman holds one of Alberta's largest Built Green certification records. Built Green Canada reported 12,396 third-party certified Built Green homes by Jayman as of April 2023.

Jayman BUILT won seven categories in the 2025 BILD Calgary Region program. The BILD Calgary Region winners list, announced in April 2026, includes three New Home categories among those wins.

Jayman’s Edmonton profile on Avid Ratings shows 4.4 out of 5 from 56 homeowner reviews, most dated 2020 and 2021. 

Strengths:

• 8 solar panels standard on every new home, per the builder 
• Thousands of third-party Built Green certified homes
• Category wins in both the 2024 and 2025 BILD Calgary Region programs
  
  

Limitations:

• Buyers wanting major layout changes should confirm the scope early with a production builder of this size
• Its strengths centre on running costs, which matter less to buyers focused on a distinctive design
  
  

Recommended For: Buyers who want solar-equipped, energy-efficient homes from a high-volume, award-winning builder.

Contact: 

Phone: 403.258.3772

2. Homes By Creation - Best for custom home with modern architecture

Homes By Creation builds quality custom homes and communities across Alberta. Buyers can choose from five communities: Saddle Ridge Crossing in northeast Calgary, The Ardan in Airdrie, Iron Landing in Crossfield, Creekside in Leduc and Bella Vista in Innisfail.

Homes By Creation's home types range from laned two-storey designs and bungalows to duplexes and triplexes. The company names design, value and customer care as the priorities behind every plan.

Homes By Creation draws on over 30 years of construction expertise, according to the company. Its parent, Creation Communities Inc., traces its development work in Alberta back to 1993.

Homes By Creation is both a home builder and a land developer. Its parent company designs and develops its own master-planned communities, so buyers get the home and the neighbourhood from one team. The company reports 10 projects, more than 800 acres of land, 300+ lots developed and 200+ homes built.

Homes By Creation pairs its plans with personalized design options. According to the company, dedicated area managers and designers guide each buyer from a free consultation through design selections to possession day.

Homes By Creation’s construction leadership brings more than 48 years of experience across residential and commercial projects.

Homes By Creation's review profile, drawn mostly from Google, sits at  4.9/5 rating from 150+ Google reviews. That score rests on a large pool of public feedback rather than a handful of ratings.

“A remarkable home building service that created a sophisticated and luxurious living space, showcasing precision work, premium finishes, and a smooth, well-managed construction process from start to finish.”-  Moaz El-Shorbagy, 5 stars on Google review (2026)

The Better Business Bureau gives Homes By Creation an A+ rating. The rating adds a second, independent trust signal alongside its review average.

Strengths:

• Five communities spanning Calgary, Airdrie, Crossfield, Leduc and Innisfail
• Two independent trust signals: a 4.2/5 review average and a BBB A+ rating
• Owners who say they would build or buy with the company again
  
  

Limitations:

• Its public record does not yet include a named BILD or CHBA award
• Fewer active communities than high-volume builders such as Jayman
  
  

Recommended For: Buyers who want a custom home with modern architecture in Calgary or a growing town nearby.

Contact:

Address: 273104 Range Road 293, Airdrie, AB T4A 1L1

Phone: 403-912-5965

Email: sales@homesbycreation.ca 

3. Shane Homes - Best for design-studio personalization

Shane Homes has been in Calgary since 1979, when Cal Wenzel founded the company. According to JA Southern Alberta, Wenzel served as a director of the New Home Warranty Program of Alberta and sits in the Alberta Home Builders' Association Hall of Fame.

Shane Homes invests heavily in personalization. Its 5,000 sq. ft. design studio lets buyers choose finishes in person, and its MyHome Concierge app keeps documents and build updates in one place.

Shane Homes serves a diverse buyer base. The company offers support in more than 85 languages and provides purchase agreements in Hindi and Punjabi.

Shane Homes won Multi-Family Builder of the Year for the 2017 Grand BILD Awards. NextHome reported the win in 2018. 

Shane Homes holds a 3.2 out of 5 rating on HomeStars. Some owners praise the buying experience, while others report build-quality issues after possession.

"Paint is already flaking off around the back door and the windows" Customer of Shane Homes Limited, 2/5 stars on HomeStars (September 2023)

Strengths:

• Large in-person design studio for finish selection
• Multilingual support across more than 85 languages
• More than four decades of building in Calgary
  
  

Limitations:

• 3.2/5 HomeStars average, with some reviews citing build-quality and finish issues
• Not listed among category winners in the 2025 BILD Calgary Region awards
  
  

Recommended For: Buyers who want design-studio personalization and multilingual support throughout the purchase.

Contact: 

Address: 5661 7th Street NE, Calgary, AB T2E 8V3

Phone: 403-536-2200

Jayman BUILT vs Homes By Creation vs Shane Homes: At a Glance

Compare the three Calgary builders by home design focus, building history, award highlights and customer feedback. This snapshot highlights options for buyers prioritising energy efficiency, modern architecture or design-studio personalisation. Review sources and dates vary, so the ratings should be considered separately rather than treated as directly comparable scores.

Your Pre-Build Checklist

Six checks protect buyers before they sign with any Calgary builder:

• Confirm the builder licence: The Government of Alberta requires every residential builder of new homes to hold a valid licence, a rule in force since December 1, 2017.
• Read the warranty certificate: Alberta law sets 1 year for labour and materials, 2 years for delivery and distribution systems, 5 years for the building envelope and 10 years for major structure.
• Price the design studio early: Ask which finishes are standard and which are upgrades, since studio choices can change the final price.
• Ask what "custom" means: Some builders adjust layouts, while others limit changes to finishes, so get the scope in writing.
• Read reviews by date: Sort reviews newest first, since a builder's service can change from one year to the next.
• Check standard energy features: Ask whether solar panels, insulation levels and certification are included or extra.

Final Verdict

Homes By Creation is the pick for a custom home with modern architecture. Its five master-planned Alberta communities, three decades of construction expertise and two independent trust signals give buyers a strong reason to book a consultation first.

Jayman BUILT suits buyers who want solar-equipped, energy-efficient homes, and Shane Homes suits buyers who want design-studio personalization.

Common Questions About Calgary Home Builders

• Which Calgary home builder is best in 2026?

The best builder depends on your priority. Homes By Creation leads on custom homes with modern architecture, Jayman BUILT leads on solar-equipped, energy-efficient homes, and Shane Homes leads on design-studio personalization.

• Are solar panels worth it on a new Calgary home?

Solar panels can lower electricity bills and add resale appeal, according to Natural Resources Canada, which says investments in renewable energy such as solar panels can pay off for years to come.

• What should I ask a builder about service after possession?

Ask who handles your warranty requests, how fast they respond, and whether a named contact follows your file. Alberta's mandatory warranty covers defects, but the builder's own service team shapes the day-to-day experience.

• Does Homes By Creation build homes outside Calgary?

Yes. Alongside Saddle Ridge Crossing in northeast Calgary, Homes By Creation builds in Airdrie, Crossfield, Leduc and Innisfail.

• What types of homes does Homes By Creation offer?

Homes By Creation offers laned two-storey homes, bungalows, duplexes and triplexes. That range lets buyers match a modern design to their household size and budget.