Posh three- to eight-car private garages, $270,000 kitchens, expansive and multi-leveled outdoor living spaces, private elevators, 24-hour concierge service, plus million-dollar, park or water views — it's all typical of Calgary's new luxury condo market.

Nearby, quality schools are a must for many Calgary homebuyers

Tiffany Gaura wanted her two young kids to be able to easily walk to school without crossing a busy road.

In March, the family moved into the northeast, inner-city community of Bridgeland, two-and-a-half blocks away from the specialized Langevin School – a Calgary Board of Education (CBE) science school.

Meanwhile, Amanda and Jonathan Corson and their two-year-old son will move into a larger home in their Auburn Bay neighbourhood this November, just a short walk from the community's two new elementary schools – one in the Catholic school system, the other public.

"Whichever school he goes to, he should be within walking distance," said Amanda Corson, who is a teacher herself and who grew up walking to school.

How Calgary's housing market stacks up against other major centres

When it comes to the housing market and the availability of affordable options, people often lose sight of the big picture. Instead of obsessing over the minute details of the market in any one particular city, it can be helpful to take a step back and examine things in a broader context to provide points of comparison. This dose of perspective helps one to remember that while $400,000 might seem like a lot to ask for a detached home in one city, in another major metropolitan area, people might be hard pressed to find a home for less than twice that amount.

Gardening tips as autumn arrives

I walked the dog in a sweater this morning. Soon I will be wearing my down jacket. So, is this all we get? Is it the end of the garden season? No way!

Hold your horses and follow these dos and don'ts to get the most out of our shrinking garden season this month.

High supply in Calgary's condo market continues to push down prices

Calgary's condominium market continues to see the supply of available product overwhelm buyer demand, meaning owners looking to sell need to consider ways to set their unit apart from the crowd.

According to CREB®'s 2017 Economic Outlook & Regional Housing Market Mid-Year Update, the condo market has seen a slight rise in year-to-date sales over 2016, but not enough to keep pace with a rise in listings, up an average of nine per cent over last year.

That increased supply is putting downward pressure on prices, which are expected to continue to decrease during the rest of the year for an annual forecasted decline of three per cent.

How economic indicators actually drive the housing market

What do unemployment, migration and oil prices have in common? Apart from being touchy subjects at a party, they all influence the Calgary housing market to some extent. Understanding how and why that happens could provide an advantage when planning a home sale or purchase.

"In many cases the impact is indirect," said Ann-Marie Lurie, chief economist for CREB®.

One part of that impact relates to demand.

In Calgary's competitive rental market, homeowners looking to make a few extra bucks must set themselves apart

Short-term home renting has been going on for decades, but has now become an entrenched part of the economy, and a popular way to generate a bit of extra income, thanks to rental services and facilitators, such as Airbnb, VRBO, Kijiji and property management companies.

When Angela Casale lost a long-term tenant in the Ramsay property where she runs a wellness clinic on the lower floor and has a rental unit upstairs, it meant adjusting to Calgary's competitive rental market.

"There are no renters to be had. Apartment buildings are giving people three free months and TVs and all kinds of things," said Casale.

Things to consider when replacing your refrigerator

Does the inside of your refrigerator have a permanent funky smell? Does the freezer section look like a landscape from the North Pole?

If so, it might be time to buy a new refrigerator.

Sheldon Mahe, an appliance expert at Trail Appliances in Calgary, says anyone upgrading from a 20-year-old refrigerator might be surprised at the new styles and features available with today's models.

Design, comfort and location come together in Simone Carr-Smith's Mount Pleasant duplex

Simone Carr-Smith and her husband, Colin Smith, had a large list of must-haves when it came to finding a new home. The couple had been living in Winston Heights, but with their daughter, two dogs, and Carr-Smith's mom and aunt living with them, the home had become too small for their needs. They wanted a fresh floor plan – one that could comfortably accommodate three generations – and a convenient location in the northwest, close to the inner-city and to high-ranked schools. It also had to appeal to the couple's diverse aesthetic sensibilities, blending both modern and traditional elements. So, when Carr-Smith's cousin, Saville Homes founder Sheldon Appave, mentioned that he was building a duplex in Mount Pleasant, the couple jumped at the chance to partner with him and build their dream home from a blank canvas.

The complicated relationship between millennials and the housing market

When Juliet Burgess, 29, bought her 110-year-old home in Inglewood for the above-list price of $350,000, she says she became the first among her circle of millennial friends to become a homeowner.

"I personally don't know anyone in my age group who owns property," said Burgess, who works in the not-for-profit sector. "We're super lucky to be able to afford to buy.

"I've been saving my whole life, since I was 14. Even with that, my partner's savings and our parents giving us a little bit, we could only put down the minimum for a down payment."