HGTV star Todd Talbot shares advice from 20 years in real estate at the Calgary Home and Garden Show

At the age of 22, Vancouver actor Todd Talbot bought his first home, paying his mortgage with the help of a rent-paying friend.

It was a unique occurrence among his theatre colleagues.

"(As an actor) you don't make a ton of money and you are pretty transient," said Talbot, who, as a teenager, appeared on the Hillside TV series with fellow Vancouverite and current Hollywood heavyweight Ryan Reynolds.

However, it was this initial foray into real estate – $190,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo two blocks from Kitsilano Beach – that sparked Talbot's second career as an entrepreneur, leveraging one piece of property for another, and then another, and eventually leading to ownership of several real estate companies.

Industrial real estate market hopes to maintain momentum in 2018

When it comes to the Calgary commercial real estate market, downtown office space grabs all the headlines.
Just like in sports, where star players occupy the limelight and grinders are often overlooked, the struggles of the downtown office market continue to dominate discussions of commercial real estate, while the industrial sector has quietly weathered the economic storm over the past three years.

Navigating the road to rural living

Dave Mahlow grew up on an acreage, and knew he wanted to return to the rural lifestyle, even after living in Calgary with his wife Kathy for many years. Last June, the couple made the move, purchasing a 12-acre property near Millarville.

"We wanted to get away from the city and enjoy the peace and quiet," said Mahlow.

Sumeet and Shweta Singla were drawn to Shawnee Park by promise of a new community within an established area of the city

Sumeet and Shweta Singla lived in the southwest community of Evergreen for over 14 years. They loved the location, the schools and their friends in the neighbourhood, but the couple and their 14-year-old daughter were ready for a bigger home.

For Patricia Kan and Sam Schnitman, finding the right designer made their dream home a reality

Whether it's adding a few pops of colour and some fabulous artwork, or completely redoing the interior aesthetic, a designer can make all the difference when it comes to creating a polished look. That's why Brazil natives Patricia Kan and Sam Schnitman, who moved to Calgary three years ago, turned to Katie Rioux of DWK Interiors when it came time to furnish and decorate their new home in Mahogany. The couple wanted a family-friendly design for their three girls, aged 10, 14 and 21 – one that would highlight the home's stunning views of the surrounding wetlands. Rioux utilized neutral shades and soft textures, highlighted by pops of "bling" in the fixtures and hits of soft turquoise, creating an elegant and warm ambience that's perfect for cozying up by the fire or entertaining large groups.

Unique Upper Mount Royal "castle" house continues to generate buzz

In most instances, the saying "a man's home is his castle" isn't meant to be taken literally.

But for those familiar with one rather imposing dwelling in Calgary's Upper Mount Royal neighbourhood, the saying couldn't be more apt.

Classic timber-frame and log homes are the perfect fit for many Alberta acreage properties

Attractive acreage properties lend themselves beautifully to some classic building methods: timber-frame construction and natural log homes.

Each has its own appeal, and while the homes come at a premium cost, Alberta specialty builders say the results are worth the money.

As expected, Calgary sales activity similar to last year

The new year opened predictably, with monthly figures close to the Januarys of the past three years.

With new mortgage rules and rates officially in effect, sales activity in January remained comparable to last year, as rising sales for attached properties were not enough to offset declines in both the apartment and detached sector.

Silverhorn acreage development focuses on conservation and enhancement of nature

For 25 years, Mark Kwasnicki has not only been living in the Bearspaw area on the doorstep of Calgary's northern boundary, he has also been building large, custom homes for some who would become his neighbours.

He knows what people want when it comes to acreage homes – including the high-end construction specs, impressive designs, and all the bells and whistles – but he also knows what they want from the development itself.

The games are gone, but its legacy lives on

While the Olympic flame may be long extinguished, warm memories and many benefits of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary are alive and well 30 years later.

"The best thing about the Olympic experience was the forethought that went into its legacy," said Dale Oviatt, senior manager of communications and stakeholder engagement for WinSport.

On Sept. 30, 1981, WinSport, formerly known as the Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA), successfully won the bid from the International Olympic Committee for Calgary to host the XV Olympic Winter Games in 1988.