Selling your home in Calgary's present real estate market can be a challenge, but some common-sense decisions can help improve the odds.

John Hripko, a REALTOR® with Royal LePage Benchmark, says he's recently noticed basic things that some sellers are not doing – things that, if done right, could make a difference when selling in a down market.

The holidays are just around the corner, and what better way to kick off the season then a visit to one of Calgary's trendy, inner-city neighbourhoods to stroll through a collection of locally owned ateliers, art galleries and vintage stores.

According to Calgary business improvement associations (BIAs), local shopping is expected to be popular this year, and retailers in inner-city shopping districts are primed for an influx of visitors.

A beautiful, well-designed and well-crafted home is about more than the pretty countertops and gleaming floors. Often, what lies beneath the surface is just as important.

It's been a big year for the CREB® Charitable Foundation, as events, fundraisers and dozens of volunteer initiatives filled the annual calendar. To cap the year off, the foundation announced a $1-million, three-year commitment to Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta's newest development, the Silvercreek Legacy build.

Gino Marghella was a young manager at the Italian Centre Shop in Edmonton when he bought his first home back in 2005.

For a young adult, purchasing a home can be an experience filled with anxious moments. Marghella – who is now general manager of the Italian Centre Shop, Alberta, and manages the Calgary store – readily admits that's the way he felt at the time.

While it is known for its breathtaking beauty, proximity to Canmore and some excellent ice cream, Cochrane is also a community with a rich and diverse history, fuelled by its ranching origins.

My favourite Netflix show has a plot of murder and suspense. Unlike a dead tree in your yard, where the cause of death might not be determined for years, there is always resolution at the end of every season of Shetland.