Calgary's trusted source of real estate news, advice and statistics since 1983.
May 04, 2017 | Donna Balzer
Shelter from the storm
Avid gardeners should consider elevation, climate and soil before buying a new home
As many Albertans know, we can get some really nasty hail storms. Years ago, when we lived in Airdrie, my kids got pelted by golf-ball-sized hail walking back from school. They survived, but my garden wasn't as lucky; the hail had stripped leaves off trees and pummeled my native orchids into the dirt. After nine years in Airdrie, it was the final straw. We listed the house and moved back to Calgary.
Thankfully, garden enthusiasts can now look up factors that impact their garden, such as elevation, before buying a house. Other factors that affect a garden, like soil and microclimate, can be changed, but elevation is fixed. If you are a gardener looking to buy or sell in a satellite community, here are some gardening tips to consider:
May 04, 2017 | CREBNow
StoneGate on arrival
New retail development to take shape near airport
A major regional shopping centre is being planned just north of Calgary's airport, in a burgeoning district.
ONE Properties has plans to develop StoneGate Common as the retail portion of the overall StoneGate Landing project and turn it into a "signature" retail development that will serve northeast Calgary and the greater Calgary region from its location at 128th Avenue N.E. and Barlow Crescent.
StoneGate Landing, directly north of the airport, will include a 10-million-square-foot industrial park, a 2.5-million-square-foot suburban office development, hotels and auto dealerships on about 800 acres.
May 04, 2017 | Rachel Naud
Take a bite out of stress
How to make moving easier on your four-legged family members
For Erika Lagyjanszki, a 25-year-old wedding photographer, moving out of her basement apartment was a stressful ordeal for both her and her pets.
Finding a new rental that would allow her two dogs – Bailey, a four-year-old husky border collie cross, and Diesel, a two-year-old shepherd husky cross – while trying to time the logistics of the move added to her exasperation.
And, while Lagyjanszki had moved before and knew what to expect, she wasn't prepared for the affect the experience had on her pets.
May 11, 2017 | Kathleen Renne
Tech age dawning
It's like living with the Jetsons," said Scott Silva, as he characterizes the ever-growing trend in high-tech homes.
"The next level of automation in one's home is about intuition and integration based on lifestyle . . . your home will know what your life looks like," said Silva, director of business development for Sunset Homes.
May 04, 2017 | Andrea Cox
Together in Walden
With the purchase of a three bedroom townhome in Walden, a young Calgary couple embarks upon their new life together
On a warm spring day in March, Kristen Lee and Joshua Gregory, both 22, grabbed some coffee to go and set out on a day of touring show homes. They just want to see what was available and enjoy the day, but when they came upon a three bedroom townhome design at Walden Place by Cardel Lifestyles in the southeast community of Walden, they were sold.
At the time, they were both living at home with their parents and had excellent jobs. Kristen is a chemist and Joshua works for a security company, so they had a decent nest egg saved up. They mulled it over for a bit, and a week later, at the beginning of April, they signed the papers and put down their deposit.
May 25, 2017 | Kathleen Renne
Building home equity
A long-time renter transitions into home ownership and begins building tax-free capital gains
Nathan Magee knows a thing or two about renting. Since moving to Calgary in 1999, he has rented apartments, duplexes, houses and rooms in neighbourhoods as disparate as Bridlewood, Marda Loop, Forest Lawn and downtown.
Magee rented for 14 years in Calgary before deciding it was time to buy in 2013.
"What really pushed my wife and I over the edge was a combination of things. We were renting a house in Marda Loop at the time and the place got broken into four times. Plus, the rent was going up to $2,000 a month. That's when we thought, 'Let's get out of here and look at buying,'" recalled Magee.
May 18, 2017 | Joel Schlesinger
From dank to swank
Basements are going upscale.
If you're looking to make your home stand out in Calgary's real estate market, it's no longer simply a matter of having a finished basement with some storage, an extra bedroom, full bathroom and a media room.
These days, Calgary's better homes are stealing a page from the 1970s – complete with wet bar and wine cellar to create an air of hospitality.
May 18, 2017 | Gerald Vander Pyl
Got grill?
Warm summer days mean spending time with family and friends, and what better way to do that than with a barbecue.
May 16, 2017 | CREB
Meet the stars of real estate
The 2017 Recognizing Our Accomplished REALTORS® (ROAR) Award finalists have been announced! Check out this year’s real estate game changers.
May 04, 2017 | CREBNow
Lots for lease
The suburban commercial real estate market has mostly avoided the high vacancy rates seen downtown, but levels are creeping upwards in suburban malls
The economic downturn of the past two years has had a widespread impact on Calgary's retail sector with businesses in the core particularly hard hit.
Two years of a recession in 2015 and 2016 have taken their toll as thousands of people in the city's central business district were victims of layoffs in the oil patch, which takes up the vast majority of space in the downtown office market.
With thousands of potential customers gone, retail stores and restaurants have felt the pinch.
