East of downtown Calgary, in the shadow of the core's hulking skyscrapers, stands the city's oldest home in its original location – Fort Calgary's Hunt House.

North of Calgary, where Highway 2A splits off the main route to Edmonton, are three communities offering the best of quiet, rural-Alberta living.

Carstairs, Didsbury and Olds each have their own unique appeal, along with real estate choices ideal for growing families.

Mortgage loan insurance has become a popular way for people to buy a home when they can't come up with a 20 per cent down payment.

"I would say that 95 per cent of all first-time homebuyers require the insurance," said Calgary REALTOR® Crystal Tost. "It's expensive in Calgary. How do you save 20 per cent to get around insurance when you're paying rents and car payments, and probably have credit cards? It's definitely a good program for people that want to get into a home."

Townhomes can offer greater affordability than buying a single-family home, but some people would prefer not to have the obligations that come with condominium-type ownership.

Financing your first home purchase can be intimidating, especially with Canada's frequently changing guidelines. However, there are resources available for Calgarians, including a variety of rebates, tax credits and opportunities for down-payment assistance.

If you're looking to enter the condo market in Calgary these days, there's certainly a lot of choice available among new apartment-style condos and those on the resale market

Iconic status was off in the future for the 22-year-old winger. The bushy moustache had yet to grow out and become a trademark.

Sweeping, unimpeded views. A quiet that is uninterrupted by hectic daily traffic.
For residential homebuyers in Calgary's tallest condo buildings, the advantages of their lofty perches are obvious.

"There is that prestige factor of being high up," said Ernest Hon, director of sales and marketing for the Guardian, the 44-storey twin towers that are Calgary's tallest residential buildings. "But it's the views, the light, the quiet of being far above the streets."