Affordability driving sales growth in Airdrie, Cochrane and Okotoks

Calgary's surrounding communities and their respective residential resale housing markets are continuing their torrid pace in 2014, with 4,449 homes overall exchanging hands for the first nine months of the year, a 26 per cent increase compared with 2013, according to CREB®.

Airdrie, Cochrane and Okotoks all saw double-digit sales growth on a year-over-year basis.

* In this three-part series, CREBNow takes a look at the sinister and spooky side of Calgary's haunted housing history

Ghost walk reveals historic Calgary neighbourhoods' most haunted residents

It's chilly. Toque weather – a tad dreary, with not a star in the sky.

The perfect night, really, for a ghost walk in the historic Calgary community of Inglewood.

Closely situated to Fort Calgary, Inglewood was once home to the city's first main street in 1875. Originally known as East Calgary, or Brewery Flats, the name Inglewood was bestowed upon the community in 1911 by Col. James Walker.

Calgary's commercial sector still going strong

The Calgary Tower's new, much-discussed exterior lighting system may serve as more than an eye-catching attraction. It might also shine new light on the city's burgeoning commercial sector, which, according to new statistics, is leading the country in a number of key categories for 2014.

Commercial leasing activity in the city is among the most active in Canada, with companies having snatched up 1.2 million square feet of space through the first nine months of 2014, according to commercial real estate firm CBRE Limited.

Plenty of options available to buyers
When buying a home, the first thing to consider is the down payment.

Most people know they need at least five per cent of the purchase price as a minimum  requirement, and 20 per cent to avoid Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) mortgage insurance. However, many people do not realize there are more places to come up with a down payment than just your savings. Here are a few of the most common:

Savings
The first and most common source of a down payment is a person or a couple's savings. First you save, then you buy the house – pretty straightforward.

This year marked the 16th annual CREB® Charitable Foundation Building Hope golf tournament, which had a record-breaking year raising more than $50,000.

Funds raised will go towards local organizations such as Inn From the Cold, Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids and the PREP Program, dedicated to the inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome in home, school and community life.

Calgary Chamber comes out in support of secondary suites

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce has come out in support of secondary suites in the city – a hot-button topic that has dominated city council's agenda over the past several months.

"The Chamber, in particular, is in support of the further legalization of secondary suites because there's a strong business case to do it," said Justin Smith, director of policy, research and government relations.

"Mainly, there's a strong business case in having an affordable rental market in a city to attract new labour. and to also retain talented labour to make sure you have an affordable city overall."