When the Alberta economy was firing on all cylinders, Albertans were known throughout the country as the one demographic that was sustaining the recreational residential property market in Canada.

Renovation expert and HGTV superstar Bryan Baeumler has fond memories of his first home, a small, 50-year-old bungalow that he purchased and renovated with his wife, Sarah, who is an interior designer.

Renovations are often a serious consideration for homeowners planning to sell.

Nick Lima, a Calgary REALTOR® who specializes in marketing renovated homes and those in need of renovations, says reaching out to the right experienced professional should be the first step.

Dear Santa,

It's been an interesting year in Calgary real estate.

On the residential side, sales activity is struggling, as the city continues to recover from recession years in 2015 and 2016. In the downtown core, there's still an office vacancy rate of about 25 per cent.

I'm thinking of those dynamics as I ponder my Christmas wish list. Of course, I would like a nice bottle of scotch, concert tickets, more paid writing gigs or perhaps a trip somewhere. But as a journalist who tends to focus much of my writing on the world of real estate, I have some special requests.

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.