Out-of-town living resonates for those looking for laid-back lifestyle

Dusty Dancer likes his privacy – a natural evolution having owned an acreage property south of Calgary for nearly two decades.

So he gets the appeal of how some homeowners might be looking to leave the city for a little r 'n r.

"Some have their own nine-hole mini-golf course. You can make it whatever you want to be. You can't do that in the city," said Dancer, president of the DeWinton Community Association.

Price declines being moderated by lack of listing activity, say experts

The numbers don't lie, but they can be misleading.

Calgary's real estate market so far this year has continued a pattern of year-over-year declines that was first set early in 2015.

According to CREB®, sales decreased by more than 10 per cent up to the end of July from the same time last year.

Yet, perhaps surprising, is the benchmark price is down just 3.7 per cent.

But beware of Calgary's famous hail belt

What's with crazy gardening terms like "deadheading?" It sounds like something done in a dark alley, in private, after midnight.

Patrick Horner, a reader and fairly new gardener, wasn't sure at first, but he figured out from an online search that it meant cutting flowers off after they fade to encourage more flowers. He sent me an email: "If I am deadheading [my dianthus], what do I remove?"

Horner's plant in question is a perennial dianthus – a hardy dwarf relative of the common-cut flower the carnation. If he deadheads it, it may bloom again a bit this season, and will certainly bloom more heavily next year because it won't use up its energy making seeds this year.

Commercial development in Airdrie steady despite downturn

Paul Gerla has long had a vision to develop a vibrant neighbourhood shopping destination in Airdrie's flourishing southwest quadrant.

And he wasn't about to let a downturn in the provincial economy distract him.

"When we evaluate a project like this, we think in terms of decades, not necessarily what's happening today," said Gerla, general manager of WestMark Holding Ltd., which is behind a new five-hectare Cooper's Town Promenade commercial district in the upscale Cooper's Crossing community.

Despite a challenging year, 1995 CREB® president Wayne McAlister chose to focus on the silver linings

A self-described "eternal optimist," Wayne McAlister still couldn't be blamed for looking back at 1995 with some degree of pessimism.

After all, as CREB®'s president that year, he oversaw Calgary's housing industry at a time when employment uncertainty had waned for years, resulting in weak consumer confidence and a painfully slow market.

"There was a downturn in the early '90s, with oil down – dramatically low – and the whole economy was feeling the pinch," he said. "(By 1995), we were still experiencing an economic downturn. There was some good, some bad that year."

Condo developers respond to 'downsizing' needs

As the largest segment of the population in North America, baby boomers have shaped our world more than any other age group. And their impact on housing is profound.

Now, while this generation, born between 1946 and 1964, is becoming increasingly gray, the real estate industry is responding to their needs for housing.

Many developers in Alberta are turning their attention to high-density high-rises in centrally located neighbourhoods to reflect boomers' demand for stylish, worry-free living, said Parham Mahboubi, vice-president of planning and marketing at Qualex-Landmark — a Vancouver-based development firm which is the force behind Park Point in the Beltline along 12th Avenue S.W.

Cool backyard tools that turn up the heat this season

Ahh, summer in the city. What a great time to be a homeowner, right? Step out your door and survey your domain, listen to the birds, smell the flowers and greenery — then plan your evening barbecue.

But wait. There's a flipside to all that. Did you water the lawn and garden? Does it need mowing before you can enjoy it? Better get it done, because tonight you're going to have to hover over the grill to make sure your steaks are done to perfection, while your friends and family enjoy the results of your backyard labour.

Well, we all know technology can't solve every problem, but it can certainly help reduce the stress and time you devote to looking after your outdoor living space.

President's tenure marked by arrival of MLXchange, rise in Internet usage 

When Rosalee Krygier took on the president's role at CREB® in 2003, the industry had just finished a record-breaking year.

Though the 2003 market didn't quite reach the frenetic pace of the year before, it was still a strong year.

"It was really balanced," Krygier said. "It was good, steady, not a controversial market."

Calgary's industrial sector showing signs of strain

Calgary's industrial market continues to hiccup along in a weakened economy as vacancy rates have risen over each of the last four quarters and are likely heading toward the bottom of the cycle, said a second-quarter market report by Cushman & Wakefield.

"One positive is that the amount of space under construction has been cut substantially; helping to prevent future jumps in the vacancy rate," read the report.

City's evolving arts scene a good news story for real estate

Recent high-profile additions to Calgary's cultural scene stand to benefit the city's real estate market in a big way, say experts.

New facilities such as Studio Bell's National Music Centre and the Calgary Film Centre will go a long way toward helping the city shake off its stodgy Cowtown image, said Tom Keenan, a professor at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Environmental Design.

"Interesting people, things to do, cultural amenities like the opera – these all play a role in making a city appealing to live in," he said.