Taking a scenic drive about 35 minutes southwest of Calgary will bring you to the sister towns of Turner Valley and Black Diamond, with populations of 2,500 and 2,700, respectively. Another 10 minutes south is the village of Longview and its 300 residents.

All three have a lot in common, including a friendly, small-town feel and a variety of housing options to meet many buyers' needs and budgets.

In a market flush with oversupply and lingering economic difficulties, condo builders need to stand out from the crowd to reach potential buyers.

While some offer trips to Las Vegas or New York to seal the deal, two of Calgary's longtime builders say the key to success in today's market is good developments with incentives that help a buyer's financial bottom line.

Despite the Edmonton-Calgary rivalry, there's at least one import from our northern neighbour that appears to be a welcome addition to the local real estate market: backyard suites.

For the past couple years, the Calgary condo market has been plagued by elevated inventory, but there has been some improvement in that area over the past year.

Let's look at some key stats that have defined the condo market so far this year in Calgary.

Renovated basements offer the dual benefit of extending a home's usable square footage and bolstering its resale value.

Shopping for furniture involves a lot of choices. For each different piece, there are endless size, fabric and colour options.

However, finding the perfect furniture for your home can be a breeze with some pre-shopping preparation and a bit of advice from the experts.

Imagine waking in the middle of the night to a familiar feeling in your bladder – nature is calling. As you walk into the bathroom, a warm blue light appears near the base of the toilet, guiding you on your mission. At the same time, the seat, already preset to a comfortable temperature, senses your proximity and silently rises. One push of a button later, the built-in sound system starts playing your favourite song – Taking Care of Business by Bachman Turner Overdrive.

The town of High River, located 30 minutes south of Calgary on the banks of the Highwood River, has bounced back from the trials and tribulations of the 2013 floods with grace and determination.

If the siding on your house has seen better days, the good news is there are a wide variety of products to choose from to replace it, each with its own pros and cons. Neil MacDonald, assistant store manager with Home Depot Canada's Beacon Hill location, says it's important to remember that while material cost is a major part of the equation, people also need to consider ease of installation, or factor in the cost of a professional install, when deciding on new siding.

Here is a comparison between the most common siding products (click to expand):

Lowell Harder and Lee Edwards are longtime residents of the Bragg Creek area, and both men are quick to list the many benefits of living in this scenic, tight-knit community.