Versatile tiny homes provide unique lifestyle on a limited budget

Mark Kirk sold his house, moved to Calgary, and only then realized how much stuff he really owned, and how little of it he regularly used. This revelation – along with his desire for a career change – led Kirk to start his own tiny-homebuilding business, Blackbird Tiny Homes.

These homes are called "tiny" for a reason, measuring between 120 square feet and 420 square feet. Kirk says that while tiny homes have been around for close to a decade in the United States – and are the subject of more than one HGTV series – they're a relatively new option for Albertans.

Candidates spar at CREB® mayoral forum

Calgary's top three mayoral candidates discussed a variety of issues on Sept. 21 at CREB®'s Courageous Conversations, an exclusive forum focusing on housing-related issues critical to REALTORS® and the city.

Candidates Andre Chabot and Bill Smith joined incumbent Naheed Nenshi in CREB®'s W. Frank Johns Auditorium as the candidates took verbal jabs at each other over several issues.

The forum was hosted and moderated by CREB® CEO Alan Tennant.

Calgary's top three mayoral candidates discussed a variety of issues on Sept. 21 at CREB^®'s Courageous Conversations, an exclusive forum focusing on housing-related issues critical to REALTORS^® and the city.

Local REALTORS® build homes with Habitat for Humanity

On Sept. 21, the CREB® Charitable Foundation sent out a team of 24 local REALTORS® to take part in a Habitat for Humanity build day in the northwest community of Bowness. Despite the cold weather conditions, these superhero volunteers warmed the hearts of the community.

Alberta's most popular renovation projects

Canadians spent nearly $53 billion on renovations throughout 2016, according to Statistics Canada. And throughout the first quarter of this year, Canadians have already spent more than $12 billion on renovations.

According to ATB Financial's Economics and Research Team, home renovations in Alberta alone hit "a record high" of $1.78 billion during the first three months of 2017.

So, just where are Canadians – and Albertans, specifically – spending their renovation dollars?

Could a laneway home be up your alley?

For some Calgarians, a laneway house is a realistic way to achieve the elusive dream of home ownership.

Laneway houses are fully independent, small-scale dwellings that face onto an alley, typically found in the backyards of existing homes. Often referred to as "urban cabins," they are an alternative way to add density to established inner-city neighbourhoods.

While the buzz around laneway homes might be new, the concept is not.

The benefits of small-space living

When software developer Mike Surbey and occupational therapist Kaitlyn Bernardin got married earlier this month, they were already ensconced in a 498-square-foot, one-bedroom condo just off popular 17th Avenue S.W.

The young couple — he's 32 and she's 29 — along with their cat, love their open-concept, efficient space in Grosvenor's Smith project in the Beltline. The smaller living space is the perfect fit for their lifestyle.

"We don't accumulate a lot of stuff and it is really easy to clean," said Bernardin.

Single-level homes are in high demand among retirees planning for their future

For active senior JoAnn Fetzner, who golfs three times a week and travels widely, one-level, bungalow living was an obvious choice for the rest of her life.

For empty-nester Patti Clarkson, 54, who is easing her way into retirement, her recently purchased bungalow villa will be the perfect "forever home."

For both women, finding a single-level home was a priority – part of their long-term planning for possible mobility issues down the road.

Open houses are still an important tool in the REALTOR®'s arsenal

Open houses remain a valid and valuable way to sell properties, even in this day and age of virtual reality.
While the technological tools available today to give maximum exposure to a listing have made it easier for potential homebuyers to window shop from anywhere, the physical presence of an open house still can't be replaced.

CREB® president David P. Brown says opinions about open houses are often divided. Some REALTORS® love them, while others can't stand them.

"But how we do it has changed a fair bit I believe," said Brown. "Social media has got to be the biggest thing. Before, if we were going to have an open house we might hand deliver a few flyers or something around the neighbourhood – put up some signs and that was it.

"Now, we post it all over."

Westman Centre for Real Estate Studies is developing tomorrow's real estate professionals

While interest accruing on a mortgage balance is rarely a welcome sight, the growing interest in the Westman Centre for Real Estate Studies at the University of Calgary is a different story.

Part of the Haskayne School of Business, the Westman Centre was founded in 2012 with $7.6 million in funding from the real estate industry, which included a $5 million endowment from Jay Westman. Its mission is to be a catalyst for the development of real estate professionals and a leading centre of excellence for real estate studies through its teaching, research and community engagement activities.

"Industry saw a need for a program where graduates would have a firm grasp of the real estate sector and the career opportunities it could offer," said Jessica Abt, the centre's director.