Newest townhome designs focus on livability

Mattamy Homes' latest project has the presidential stamp of approval.

More than that, the design of the two townhome style Manor series show homes in The Gates at Hillcrest in Airdrie, including the 1,698 square foot Aspen and 1,525 square foot Birch – have his hand prints all over them.

After an absence of 10 years, Don Barrineau, president of Mattamy Homes' Calgary division, decided it was time to get involved in home design again. What he found early on was that his vision of what the homes should focus on hasn't changed.

Local families and remediation experts share common sentiments about the value of radon testing

When Darcy and Audrey Undseth bought their southwest walkout bungalow in 2009, they were just learning of the dangers of radon gas.

Audrey, a doctor, had seen articles in medical journals on hazardous radon levels in basements.

The pair's son, Brennan, slept in a basement bedroom, and the Undseths wondered if they should test for radon – an invisible, tasteless, odourless radioactive gas that naturally occurs when uranium in the ground breaks down.

With a long list of ecological and economic benefits, green roofs are picking up in popularity

Imagine looking down on an urban centre from above and seeing nothing but verdant green. Stark rooftops are now overgrown with grasses, shrubs and trees. Here and there, sunlight glints off small ponds. The outlines of streets and roads are just visible through the greenery.

This may sound like a vision of a post-apocalyptic future in which nature is reclaiming abandoned cities. But in fact, it's a modern technology that proponents of green roofing would love to see become a widespread reality. The sooner the better.

CREB^® has received the Canadian Commercial Network (CCN) Merit Award, presented by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) at their 2017 AGM on March 27. 

Jodi Monaghan finds joy in personalizing her new home

Three years ago, Jodi Monaghan was on the precipice of change. She'd been living in Lethbridge for close to 30 years, her children were grown and she'd recently sold her dental practice. Monaghan wanted a fresh start in a bigger city with the right market conditions for opening a new clinic.

A new relationship had her traveling back and forth between Calgary and Lethbridge, and the more time she spent in Calgary, the more she realized that she loved the city. So she began searching for an older home in an established neighbourhood. She wanted a home she could renovate and make her own. In October, 2014 she found and purchased a 50-year-old, four-level split bungalow in the community of Lakeview.

Simple to grow, potatoes are a good starting point for people interested in growing their own produce

Like blaming the dog for eating your homework, John Mills was blaming his tractor for missing my interview call.

"I had to duct-tape my tractor radiator back together to get it working," he said.

La Vita Land receives nominations for Fireside and The Willows communities

While Calgary's economic downturn has provided its share of challenges to builders, it did not stop the best of the industry from competing for the 2016 SAM Awards.

After receiving 800 entries, BILD Calgary Region has announced their 2016 SAM Awards finalists featuring 78 companies spread across 10 categories, competing for some 60 different awards.

"The awards are proof that BILD Calgary Region members have the drive and ability to create outstanding communities, homes, renovations, marketing collateral and so much more, even in the face of economic adversity," said Shane Wenzel, the chair of the SAM Awards Committee and president of Shane Homes Ltd. "This perseverance shows the dedication and determination of our industry, which makes winning a SAM Award that much more of an accomplishment."

Whether you are buying, selling, financing or re-financing, there is a good chance your home will be subject to an appraisal to assess its value.

As an important aspect of almost all residential real estate transactions, CREB®Now spoke with Kira Penner (Canadian Residential Appraiser) to discuss the appraisal process and clarify some key points when contemplating the value of your home. Penner has been with Avison Young Valuation and Advisory Services (formerly Linnell Taylor Lipman and Associates) since 2005.

Residential dwellings are generally appraised using the direct comparison approach. This means that your home is compared with similar homes in your community and surrounding neighborhoods using current sales data. The appraised value reflects the age, condition and size of your home in relation to those properties that have recently sold in your area. If there has been a fair amount of sales activity, appraisers try to use data that is no older than 90 days. Similarly, your home's value is in part based on being able to successfully market and obtain a sale in approximately a 90-day period.