Technology influencing all factions of real estate

In today's digital world, buying a home can become a strictly online affair – making proper marketing an all-important factor in distinguishing a home for sale from one that's sold.

In a survey by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), searching online is the first step an estimated 90 per cent of potential buyers' take to owning a new home.

In addition, the NAR Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends report found more than half of Generation X (born between the early 1960s through the early 1980s) and the following Generation Y (born in the early 1980s to early 2000s) used a mobile device during their home search.

Levy renewal raises questions about community development

Calgary is familiar with new developments – so much so that the construction crane synonymous with the downtown skyline and beyond has affectionately been referred to as the city's official bird.

Yet, following a closed-door meeting earlier this year where city council agreed to freeze developers' special requests for more suburban land until a new levy agreement can be negotiated later this year, many are questioning how a new project goes from an idea to reality, and who is ultimately paying for it.

The City and suburban developers are currently in the final year of a five-year levy agreement. In 2010, the city increased its development levy to about $315,000 per hectare, doubling the number from the previous agreement.

The Government of Canada is giving financial support to the Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA) for their Get It In Writing! campaign.

The campaign raises awareness about the safety and financial risks the public face if they  participate in the underground economy by purchasing construction or home renovation services under the table. It provides consumers and home renovation contractors with tools and information to discourage and reduce participation in the underground economy.

Drop masks diverging local conditions in fourth quarter of 2014

Home price increases in Ontario were key to a slight decrease in housing affordability across Canada, said a report from RBC.

The bank said although owning a home at current market value in Canada was less affordable for the second straight quarter as of the end of 2014, affordability trends have stayed relatively flat since 2010.

Canada Olympic Park communities still hold memories of 1988 Winter Olympics

While the 1988 Winter Olympics are almost three decades in the books, the memories for some Calgarians are as fresh as ever.

Calgarian Duncan Anderson was 15 in 1988. As a "budding ski racer," he took a job as a film runner for Canadian Press during the games.

"Basically my job was to position myself with the photographers until the top racers had finished their runs," he said.

But don't go to your bank for a variable rate

Variable-rate mortgages are once again returning to popularity thanks to low interest rates  and the expectation the Bank of Canada will lower the overnight rate again in the near future.

For the last several years, consumers have favoured fixed-rate mortgages primarily due to the expectation rates would rise before they fell. Those expectations however, have not been fulfilled. In fact, the opposite has ensued and rates have gone lower not higher.

Many who recently took out five year fixed mortgages are now realizing they would have fared better with a variable-rate mortgage.

Setting the Stage: Tips and tricks for making your house inviting for potential buyers or transforming it into the house of your dreams.

Tips for prepping our home to be sale-ready*

When selling a home, first impressions can be the difference between someone making an offer or moving on to the next option.

Home staging is one way of preparing your home for looking its best at sale time. A study by the Real Estate Staging Association found 79 per cent of homes staged prior to listing sold faster than homes being staged post-listing.

Recreation properties still a hot commodity

Ask any Calgarian what they love most about the city they call home, and invariably you'll hear about the mountains, lakes and other attractions sitting well outside of city limits.

For those with the means, living life to the fullest often involves purchasing a second home situated closer to such locales and allowing owners the ability to ski, swim, golf or simply bask in the sunshine moments from their front door.