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.

Almost 20 years ago with the advent of Seaside, a live, work and play development with a village-type feel on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in northwest Florida, the philosophy of new urbanism took root.

Based on concepts espoused by renowned urban planner, Jane Jacobs – who designed Greenwich Village in New York City – new urbanism takes the inner-city vibe and brings it to the suburbs. The concept is rooted in historical village-style planning structure, with a central amenity pool in the village centre and high-density housing peppered throughout. It's a design that draws people out of their homes, and walkability is a central feature. This provides a downtown feel and downtown-style amenities, and the concept is catching on big time in Calgary.

If keeping your various loans, lines of credit, bank accounts and a mortgage in order is becoming a herculean task, some Canadian financial institutions are touting a simple solution.

So-called all-in-one mortgages, sometimes referred to as all-in-one lines of credit, combine all your financial obligations into one chequing account.