A Calgary detached home purchase income guide (for condos, click here)

Many would-be homebuyers find the home of their dreams, only to wonder, "can I afford it?" Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., as well as many major banks, recommend spending no more than 30 per cent of income on housing, including mortgage (principal and interest), property taxes, insurance and utilities. To help, we did the math for a typical detached home in each region of the city.

So, you've decided a condo is right for your lifestyle and you're pre-approved for a mortgage, but what's the next step?

Viki Fairbairn, a REALTOR® and certified condominium specialist with Royal LePage Benchmark in Calgary, says buying a condo differs from buying a house, so it's important to find the right Realtor to take you through the process.

With Calgary's condo market experiencing a period of oversupply, determining how to make the best deal, whether you're a seller or a buyer, is crucial. That starts with assessing the many factors that can affect a condo's resale value, says Vijay Thankey, a REALTOR® with RE/MAX Realty Professionals.

As Calgary's real estate market continues its recovery from an extended period of recession, there is at least one niche segment that has weathered the storm: lofts.

Finalists announced for 25th annual Emerald Awards

Mattamy Homes is among 70 organizations and individuals who have been named as finalists as part of the 25th annual Emerald Awards, which recognize environmental excellence in the province.

The homebuilder has been recognized under the Large Business (more than 100 employees) category for its Cityscape community in northeast Calgary.

As part of the federal EcoEnergy Innovation Initiative, Mattamy will build five net-zero homes in CityScape – the first already revealed late last year.

Congratulations to the following Calgary-area builders and developers, who are all finalists for the 2018 BILD Alberta Awards. The winners will be announced at the BILD Alberta Fall Conference in Jasper on Sept. 14.

Experts say you should buy a home with your head and not your heart, but it's easy to get caught up in the excitement when you find a home that seems perfect for you.

That's why a home inspection is a crucial step. It can uncover problems that might require walking away from a potential purchase, or at least mean reassessing your offer.

Next to "location, location, location," the truest maxim in real estate is "change, change, change." While your first home is a milestone, keeping pace with your changing needs is about making all the right moves.

"Move-up buyers have been through the process before and know what they want," said Michael Winiarz, vice-president of sales and marketing for Mattamy Homes in Calgary.