Despite lack of liquidity, land remains a solid investment

At first glance, buying empty space might sound like the road to ruin. But for many investors, land has become a path to a balanced, and profitable, portfolio. While that doesn't mean it's for everyone, land is certainly worth a closer look from investors weighing their options.

Land as an investment can take many forms: institutional investment by life insurance companies and pension funds, farmers renting out land for revenue, active farmers purchasing land for future investment or expansion, and developers/investors buying for future residential or commercial development.

Waterfront living comes at a premium in the Calgary market

DaVinci Homes CEO Naheed Kazmi utters three magic words when describing the appeal of the 31-unit Riviera on the Bow in Parkdale, one of her company's most recent projects: "Location, location, location."

"Everybody wanted that location," she said, recalling when the company purchased the land in 2008 and how she has received many calls since over the years from would-be buyers.

Prices remain similar to last year, but ease in October

October's housing market conditions closely echoed previous months' trends, with easing sales, rising inventories and downward price pressure. Like last month, the monthly activity was not enough to derail gains that occurred earlier in the year.

Trends shaping the city's short- and long-term development

Absent a crystal ball, the future of housing in Calgary is very much up in the air. At the same time, there are some notable trends that offer clues to what's on the horizon for the curious, the concerned and those who just like to plan ahead.

"I think the findings from the 2016 census highlight changes in the Calgary housing market," said Rylan Graham, a sessional instructor in the Faculty of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary.

"We saw significant growth in many of the inner-city neighborhoods developed pre-World War II, and at the periphery of the city through new greenfield development. These areas are where most of the population growth occurred from 2011-2016."

On Oct. 16, Calgarians will go to the polls to determine the city's mayor, councillors and school board trustees. In the competition for the mayor's chair, a three-man race has emerged between incumbent Mayor Naheed Nenshi, veteran city councillor Andre Chabot, and local lawyer and former Alberta Progressive Conservative party president Bill Smith.

Nenshi, Chabot and Smith recently sat down with CREB®Now's Mario Toneguzzi to discuss some of the most important real estate and housing-related issues impacting Calgarians, now and in the future.

On Sept. 26, the CREB® Charitable Foundation donated $300,000 to three deserving local charities through its Investing in HOPE program at its 30th anniversary celebration.

A variety of the foundation's donors, sponsors, local charities and REALTORS® filled CREB®'s atrium to celebrate the foundation's 30-year legacy. Attendees shared stories of community impact and toasted to its future.