Calgary's commercial sector still among nation's busiest markets

With cranes a seemingly permanent fixture of Calgary's growing skyline, it's of little surprise the city's commercial market has been one of Canada's busiest.

According to a report from commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE Ltd., demand for office space in Calgary and Toronto has contributed to a decline in the national office vacancy rate, which fell for the first time in two years during the third quarter of 2014.

"The Canadian economy may not be firing on all cylinders, but the Toronto and Calgary office markets turned out quite a performance last quarter," said CBRE chairman John O'Bryan.

Calgary's housing market continues to come of age

* Part two of three in the CREB®Now real estate news' latest series Growing Up

Calgary's increasingly sophisticated housing market is crossing a vital threshold following RioCan Investment Trust and Embassy BOSA's recent announcement of a $300-million 500-unit condo project for the burgeoning East Village, according to industry experts.

"Calgary is on the tipping point right now, with condo living becoming a more sought after alternative to suburban life," said Embassy BOSA president Ryan Bosa in announcing the new development at Sixth Avenue and Third Street. S.E. "The future of Calgary is up not out, and developments like the East Village showcase how Calgary is creating vibrant, sustainable communities."

Premier announces two new mitigation projects while Mayor Nenshi expresses some concerns

Alberta Premier Jim Prentice has given the go-ahead for two flood- mitigation projects to protect High River and Calgary from future flooding.

"The waters receded more than a year ago, but for many Albertans last summer's floods are far from over," he said. "Those directly affected by this disaster have told me they expect their government to act faster to help them feel safe in their communities and get on with their lives."

Expert says Calgary home inspections should be mandatory

When first-time homeowner Mario DeMarco made the "largest purchase" of his life, he wanted to ensure there were no surprises – that there would not be any major issues with the property before he signed on the dotted line.

DeMarco quickly turned to a home inspector – a move he credits as key in contributing to what turned out to be a smooth buying process.

"[It was] one of the few times in the process that I had the ability to control the situation," he said of purchasing his condo in Lower Mount Royal. "It is no different than getting an inspection on a used car before purchasing it. I wanted to know if there was water damage, electrical issues, plumbing issues..."

The Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) conference wraps today in Calgary.

More than 400 economic development officers gathered at the Westin Hotel downtown as well as various other spots in the city learning more about Alberta's energy sector as well as the economic value and opportunity for jurisdictions nationwide.

The conference included study tours on disaster recovery at the Calgary Stampede, community economic development at Village Brewery and economic development at Canada Olympic Park.

Taras Grescoe was the latest keynote speaker in Calgary's Soul of the City speaker series presented by Calgary Economic Development, the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre and Calgary Transit yesterday at Fort Calgary.

In Driving Change, Wheeling Possibilities; the future of getting around in Calgary, Grescoe, an authour, speaker and researcher who lived in Calgary in the '70s spoke about his varying experiences with transportation around the world. Here's some of what he had to say.