With cannabis legalization on the horizon, what should home buyers, sellers and REALTORS^® be aware of? 

Five years later, memories of the 2013 flood are still vivid, but Calgary is working hard to make the next one less memorable.

"When I got involved five years ago, I thought the City would be further along than they are now, but we have to appreciate that a ton of work has been done around flood mitigation," said Tony Morris, co-president of the Calgary River Communities Action Group. The grassroots organization advocates for upstream mitigation to protect thousands of homeowners across Calgary.

In just over six months time, an area structure plan (ASP) setting out the vision for a natural, amenity-rich, 570-hectare parcel of land in Calgary's deep south will go before city council.

The proposed new community of Ricardo Ranch is named after an area ranch owned by Calgary Stampede co-founder Senator Patrick Burns, and first established by William Crawley Ricardo.

Net migration figures point to housing market bounce back

It's been a challenging year for Calgary's resale housing market, which is still feeling the effects of two recession years in 2015 and 2016.

While the economy has rebounded, it has been at a slow pace, and this has been evident in the real estate industry. As of the end of June, year-to-date MLS® System sales in the resale market totalled 8,553 units, down 17.1 per cent in the city compared with the same period a year ago.

Wheels are in motion for "Barley Belt" cycle path

More and more these days, people cycle to the office or pedal to the park, so why not bike to the brewery? At the moment, the lack of proper pathways is an issue, but owners of several southeast Calgary breweries are hoping the City of Calgary will pave the way to progress for their customers and staff.

Seton Townhomes offer modern design and spacious floor plans in the heart of the action

With no condo fees, large backyards and curb appeal galore, it's no wonder that Jayman BUILT's Seton Townhomes are turning heads.

"We really wanted to explore a less-is-more influence of clean lines with simple massing and design, while keeping the architecture as modern and eye-catching as possible," said Duane Addy, creative director for Jayman BUILT.

Long-time Chestermere REALTOR® Marjorie McKay can't say enough about living in the small, friendly city on Calgary's eastern edge. "What a lifestyle," she said. "It's like resort living."

A rapidly increasing number of people are discovering Chestermere's allure. When McKay moved to the community 27 years ago, the population barely topped 900. Today, it sits around 20,700, with growth of just under two per cent last year.

How building a garage can dramatically increase your home value

Driving has always been a way of life for Calgarians, and given the ubiquity of cars in in the city, garages are a must for almost every home.

Whether looking to build a home for the first time or renovating an old one, detached or attached garages are the options most builders choose. However, special builds also exist and can even include underground parking or tunnels, at costs upwards of $35,000 for a triple-detached unit.

Calgary real estate mogul Bob Dhillon has built a successful business across Western Canada with Mainstreet Equity Corp., which owns and manages thousands of rental properties.

His business has its roots on the residential side of real estate, and it all started when he bought his first home in Calgary, fixed it up and sold it for a profit.