Calgary's million dollar market continues to post positive numbers

Calgary's luxury housing market remained among the top performers in all of Canada through the first half of 2014.

Propelled by a thriving economy, high average incomes and an influx of new Calgarians, sales of homes priced at $1 million or more increased by 18 per cent through the first six months of 2014, according to CREB®'s annual mid-year forecast update.

Mid-year forecast calling for more supply, added choices

Mario DeMarco thought he was prepared for anything after deciding to become a first-time homeowner.

The 25-year-old Calgarian has spent the past two years saving for a down payment, and was recently promoted at work, giving him the financial stability to purchase his own place – ideally a condo in the Beltline.

The City released the 2014 Civic Census results yesterday. Mayor Naheed Nenshi announced Calgary had its biggest year of growth ever increasing by 38,508 residents to 1,195,194 total.

Here's a few of the things the mayor had to say about the census:

"Calgary experienced this year, its greatest single year of growth in population, as a matter of fact in my time in this job we have experienced three of our four largest years of population growth."

West Village plans cast future of downtown core into spotlight

Construction cranes that dot the east downtown skyline are providing Calgarians a not-too distant
vision of what the city's core might soon look like.

Yet industry experts suggest future plans in the underdeveloped West Village will provide a better understanding of what's really in store in the heart of Calgary.

A historical piece of Calgary architecture has been denied historic designation.

In April, the CREBNow real estate news reported Alberta's Culture Minister Heather Klimchuk was intending to make an order that the Barron Building on Eighth Avenue SW be designated a Provincial Historic Resource.

West Village redevelopment taking back seat to twin to the east

With its eastern counterpart the darling of Calgary's development scene, the West Village couldn't be blamed for feeling a bit like a forgotten sibling.

Bounded to the north by the Bow River, to the east by 11th Street SW, to the south by the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks and to the west by Crowchild Trail, the area was once envisioned to be a "transit-oriented, sustainable urban community," yet sits idle as "an auto-oriented brownfield site."

Calgary seniors have a new option for affordable living in the historic community of Inglewood.

Inglewood House is a three-story, 43-unit complex, said a release from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), complete with 10 studio and 33 one-bedroom apartments, five of which are barrier free. The project was a joint effort of the Governments of Canada and Alberta.

Housing activity in Calgary's surrounding communities continues at a brisk pace with record-setting quarterly sales in Airdrie, Okotoks and Cochrane.

Year-to-date, 2,938 units were sold in surrounding towns up to and including June 30, a 31 per cent increase over last year.

"In addition to lifestyle preferences, tighter supply conditions for Calgary single-family homes in more affordable price ranges are fueling demand in many of the areas surrounding Calgary," said CREB® president Bill Kirk.

I started my flower seeds last weekend and I am not using a greenhouse. I am using my growop — a bank of lights tucked into a niche off the kitchen.

The phrase "grow-op" has certain negative implications but I swear I'm not breaking any laws. I love flowers and I hate the big price of buying them retail so I am starting a few at home from seed.