Residential real estate in Malmo Plains is located near Southgate Mall and LRT. It is named for a type of soil, Malmo silty clay loam, common in the Petrolia area. These southwest Edmonton properties are mainly original builds with the exception of a few custom-built modern infill houses architecturally designed with open concept floor plans. Malmo Plains also has several townhouses and a few low-rise condos with underground parkades for first time buyers wanting to live close to the University.
Most of the land within the Malmo Plains was at one time part of the University of Alberta research farm. The soils in the area were of a type known as malmo and hence the Malmo Plains name. Most of the ral estate developed took place during the 1960s primarily with single-family detached houses. There is a multi-family complex for University of Alberta's married students located at the western end of Malmo Plains. This Southgate area district is bounded on all four sides by major roadways; 51 Avenue to the North, 111 Street to the East, Queen Elizabeth II highway to the South, and 1 to 2 Street to the West. As such, residents of Malmo Plains can enjoy convenient access to other parts of the city.