Known for its forward-thinking environmental initiatives and long-term sustainability plans, Okotoks is once again showcasing some outside-the-box thinking.

A rising number of homebuyers in Canada are turning to alternative lenders for a mortgage, says the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Mortgage investment corporations (MICs) held between $13 and $14 billion of outstanding mortgages in Canada in 2018, capturing one per cent of the market share, according to a CMHC report.

Royal LePage Solutions is spearheading an innovative event designed to get people out and about, meeting real estate agents and checking out a broad selection of homes across the city and surrounding areas.

The mortgage-approval process can be a time of uncertainty, one that often ends with many bankers suggesting mortgage protection through their creditor insurance. Buyer beware – the product has come under scrutiny by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) for incentivized sales and consumer risk.

Calgarians have many options when helping an aging parent find suitable housing, but for some people the solution is right where they live.

So-called "mother-in-law" suites provide a separate space for an elderly parent to live with the assistance of family members just a door away.

Just like homeowners, renters value a sense of community in the place where they live.

This element has emerged in the design of skyscrapers with purpose-built rental suites in Calgary over the past five years, with companies such as Strategic Group making ways to create connections among neighbours a priority.

Experts tout prevalence in today's homebuying decisions

Walkability has evolved from a buzzword to an influential part of home purchasing decisions in Calgary, say real estate experts.

And to meet growing demand for improved accessibility, developers and planners need to start now by designing communities of tomorrow through a more pedestrian-friendly lens.

"(Walkability) is important to our customers," said Brookfield Residential development manager Tara Steell. "We're hearing from them and using best practices to create communities with master-planned communities. We have the ability to influence that and try to get people out of their cars."

When it comes to homeowner preference these days, one thing is clear: bigger is definitely better.

The size of the average Canadian home today is about twice as large as it was back in the 1960s. Our living spaces have been expanding rapidly, and not because of necessity.