A local REALTOR has spearheaded fundraising efforts for nine Calgarians whose four homes were affected by a two-alarm fire Monday night.

The fire broke out around 5 p.m. on April 20.

"When the fire happened, people in the community started phoning me," said CIR's Robyn Moser.

Slower economic activity influenced demand across the region in the first quarter of 2015. However, despite rising inventory levels, housing prices in Calgary's surrounding areas remained relatively stable, said CREB®'s latest Surrounding Area Quarterly report.

"A lack of recovery in oil has many concerned about their employment status and these concerns have been impacting consumer confidence in the first quarter," said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie. "However, on aggregate, surrounding area prices have posted some quarterly growth as some of these areas have not recorded the same level of pull-back in sales relative to inventory levels."

Home inspections help keep tabs on fluidity of building codes

Despite the continued popularity of reality shows that showcase the positive side of home renovations, buyers need to be ever aware of the damage that can be done when things don't go according to plan, says a local home inspector.

While the temptation to plunge into home ownership might be strong, CanPro Inspections Ltd. owner/operator Larry Pineda urges buyers to practise due diligence when purchasing a home to protect themselves against shoddy workmanship or even work done prior to changing standards – some of which may have taken place years or even decades prior.

Increased selection for attached, apartment homes in March

Proving that selection is sometimes the best sales pitch, attached and apartment listings increased year-over-year in March from a combined 1,272 to 1,360, according to CREB®.

The increase comes as combined sales decreased by 28 per cent during the month, from 975 last year to 700 units this year.

Coupled with the fact benchmark prices in the attached apartment sector have softened more than in other sectors – dropping by 1.46 per cent compared to a 0.4 per cent decline in the detached and attached sectors – the increased selection offers prospective buyers an attractive combination.

Making the decision between sticks or stones in the garden 

It started with a query from Ken.

"Donna, if I recall, you are not a fan of using cloth under stones in a walk to prevent weeds from coming up amongst the stones. I laid down some cloth, but must have bought a factory defect where they accidentally embedded grass seed in the cloth. Less than a week after I put the cloth down, grass was coming up. I am thinking of using a soil sterilizer."

Charles Cochrane is CEO of Cochrane Developments Corp. (CDC), most recently behind the Meadows Mile Professional Centre overlooking Deerfoot Meadows.

Cochrane took some time to chat with CREB®Now about the state of Calgary's economy, hot spots for commercial developers and what he thinks is the city's best kept secret.

CN: What's new with CDC - Calgary?

CC: CDC is developing two lots on the Meadows Mile development. First, CDC is developing the Meadows Mile Professional Centre on Lot One.

Communities of Olds and Didsbury full of rich history and community values

As the Calgary and Edmonton Railway (today known as Canada Pacific Railway), started rumbling across Alberta, small towns and villages dotted the boundaries of the track, including Olds and Didsbury.

Olds

Incorporated as a village in 1896, Olds was named for Canada Pacific Railway traffic manager George Olds. Early industry in the town was a brick plant. In 1913, Olds College would be constructed and grow to become one of the most in-demand agricultural education institutions in Canada.

Capital city's council passes bylaw permitting garage and garden suites on home lots

After a lengthy debate, Edmonton city council voted 9-2 to allow garage and/or garden suites on "almost any lot" in the capital.

The decision allows residents in single-family oriented zones, dubbed RF1 in Edmonton, to subdivide a property of almost 15-metres, as well as owners being able to build and rent out garage suites.

The vote was applauded by Edmonton Ward 1 Coun. Andrew Knack, who Tweeted the news as well as the fact Edmontonians now have the option to build two "skinny" homes on lots of 50 feet or greater.

While some historic Calgary corner stores have gone the way of the wrecking ball, others are emerging as community cornerstones

You see them dotted around the Calgary landscape.

Some, a little rough around the edges, have been frequented by families for more than 60 years. Others have undergone transformations to become lynch pins of re-emerging communities in the city.

They're your neighbourhood corner store.

"Have you ever heard of Mary's? We used to go there all the time when we would go to [Bowness] Park," said Michelle Norman, 28.