Local real estate professional leads change for mobility-challenged Calgarians

For Dave Bonk, 2012 was a year that made him rethink his life's purpose. After building a successful real estate business specializing in rental properties and fixer-uppers, he realized he needed an outlet to help give back to the community.

"One of the things that my company does is buy dilapidated properties and renovate them," said Bonk. "We were buying properties in foreclosure and I was seeing the condition that people were living in. It was unimaginable."

After throwing a few ideas around with his business associates, contractors and other acquaintances, Hearts and Hammers was born.

Several recent events have highlighted the need for increased awareness for affordable housing in Canada. Along with National Housing Strategy Day, which took place on Nov. 22, 11 local homebuilders and developers were recently recognized for their contributions to the Resolve campaign, which helps house those in need.

To help shed some light on the need for more affordable housing, CREB®Now examines some of the numbers surrounding efforts to combat homelessness in Calgary and Canada.

3,500
According to the Calgary Homeless Foundation, the city's homeless population numbered 3,555 in October 2014, with a further 15,600 households defined as being at extreme risk. Of that 3,555, the number of those ages 17 and under was 434, with nearly half of those (198) under the age of five.

Relaxation on lot size, floor space

It's going to be a little easier for Calgarians looking to add a legal secondary suite to their property.

In the latest development in the ongoing secondary suite saga, council has voted to relax the regulations on lot size and increase the amount of floor space allowed in the suites. The change was initiated by councillors Andre Chabot and Gian-Carlo Carra, who brought forward a motion to change the regulations.

As city plans next phase, new study reveals light-rail transit has positive effect on property prices

Light-rail transit could boost the value of your home. At least that's the general finding of a new study from the University of Calgary.

According to new research obtained exclusively by CREB®Now and completed by Economics master's degree student Laura Dick, LRT line development has had a modestly positive effect on the price of housing located close to stations along new lines in Calgary.

"Properties within zero to 500 metres of a station saw, on average, an increase in sales price of about 1.5 per cent compared to properties that are 2,000 metres or more away from a station," said Dick, whose recently completed work is still to be published in an academic journal.

Yearly update on the local and national housing markets

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) has issued its outlook on the local and national housing markets. Detailing several factors impacting Canada's housing market -- both new and resale - CMHC's numbers provide a basis for what to expect heading into the remainder of 2015 into 2016 and beyond.

To help provide a little more understanding, CREB®Now digs a little deeper into CMHC's Outlook.

Expected to open 200 units across Western Canada

Calgary-based Mainstreet Equity Corp., which specializes in mid-market apartment building in Western Canada, announced Wednesday that it will allocate at least 200 apartment units to house Syrian refugees expected to come to the country this year and next.

The apartments will reportedly be located in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Surrey, B.C., Abbotsford, B.C., and New Westminster, B.C.

Details of how many apartments will be allocated in Calgary were not yet available.

The Calgary real estate community mourned the loss of Calgary MLA Manmeet Bhullar Tuesday.

"The Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) is very saddened by the sudden passing of MLA Manmeet Bhullar," the member organization said in a posting on its website. "Mr. Bhullar was a great friend to Alberta REALTORS® and a strong advocate for the average Albertan. During his time as Minister of Service Alberta, he took an important leadership role in initiating reforms to the Condominium Property Amendment Act for the betterment of the organized real estate industry and the home-buying public.

"Mr. Bhullar will remembered for his humour, passion, intellect and, above all, his dedication to public service. He will be greatly missed by all those who had the privilege of meeting and working with him. CREB® extends its condolences to Mr. Bhullar's family, friends and colleagues."

Furniture should speak to your soul

Selecting your furniture is an exciting-but-challenging task in which scale, colour, style and function are all considered.

Yet don't just fill your space; fulfill your space.

Both should feed your soul; it should seduce you into wanting to stay in that room forever, engaging your emotions with serenity, comfort and sensibility. This will happen when you consider the perimeters of your space; appropriately scaled furniture, whether a casual or formal lifestyle, can make or break a lovely design.

Proper planning avoids nightmare situation for heirs

What are Canadians, particularly the massive Baby Boomer generation, going to do with increasingly valuable real estate?

According to a new CIBC poll, many of them will be leaving assets, including recreational properties, to heirs in their wills.

And while it may be done with good intentions, Jamie Golombek, managing director of tax and estate planning for the bank's Wealth Advisory Services, says without proper planning, that real estate could end up on the housing market, as those heirs sell properties to deal with all sorts of tax issues.

FCC, U of C join forces to support community development

A new agreement between the Federation of Calgary Communities and University of Calgary aims to offer students real-world urban-planning experience, valuable data for community planners and some certainty for homeowners.

The agreement with the university's Faculty of Environmental Design (EVDS) formalizes ongoing efforts to get students into the field, aiding community associations in conducting research, consulting residents and coming up with planning documents to guide future growth and redevelopment.

"This partnership is really critical from the point of view of having access to experience and skills (community associations) wouldn't otherwise have access to," said FCC president Leslie Evans, whose federation has some 150 member associations.