Four local REALTORS® will be journeying more than 100 kilometres across a stretch of the Sahara Desert in Morocco this November to raise money for abused women.

When you're moving, it can be hard to think outside the boxes – where to get them, what to put in them and where to store them. It adds up to extra stress in an already stressful time, which could explain why storage locker rentals are on the rise.

The master-planned vision for Calgary's East Village revitalization, launched in the mid-2000s, is becoming a living, breathing reality, now more than ever.

Alain Dupere has lived in East Village since 2011. He's watching the transformation happen one day at a time, observing the changes while he walks to and from work. Dupere, who is also president of the East Village Neighbourhood Association, says that although the area is still under construction, its vibrancy is increasing as more buildings become move-in ready and amenities continue to pop up.

"It's a great place to live and to visit. Anyone can use the amenities in our neighbourhood," he said. "It's becoming a destination for the greater Calgary (area) and beyond, and that's a nice thing."

Some might believe that the excitement around this developing community, and the desire to live and work there, are new phenomena. But according to Harry Sanders, Calgary's former historian laureate, it's not far off from the activities of the space over a century ago, when non-indigenous people first arrived in the area often referred to as the "birthplace of Calgary."

If you follow the stretch of the Elbow River that runs from the Glenmore Reservoir all the way to the downtown core, you'll come face to face with some of Calgary's swankiest addresses. Bel-Aire, Britannia, Elbow Park, Eagle Ridge and Roxboro topped the luxury charts in 2018 when it comes to average home sale price. CREB®Now chatted with Sam Corea, luxury specialist with RE/MAX House of Real Estate, to find out what makes these top luxury communities so desirable.

The redevelopment of the East Village has brought new life to an area that was once a no man's land of unsightly industrial buildings and decaying historic landmarks.

An influx of new residents has breathed life into the area, but as modern condo towers rose and filled up with buyers, one thing was lacking: rental options.

American businessman Keith Warner may have just become Calgary's – and, specifically, Inglewood's – biggest cheerleader, as his multi-million-dollar video game development company will open a studio in the community in May.

The construction machinery sprawled across a whole city block in Calgary's East Village tells a retail success story.

The 5th and Third development (named for its location at Fifth Avenue and Third Street S.E.) is being constructed and leased by RioCan. The project is two-thirds of the way towards completion and on schedule to open in 2020, says Terri Andrianopoulos, RioCan's national vice-president of marketing and communications.

Nicole Butz - Mission
For Nicole, the day begins with a short stroll from her riverside, two-bedroom condo (she has a downtown view and awakens to the honking sounds of geese) to La Boulangerie Bakery Cafe on Fourth Street to grab a latte.

She calls herself an ardent inner-city junkie. "I don't really do the suburbs well, and Mission's vibrant but a little bit out of the core, so you get a different vibe. It just feels like home."

A long-awaited effort to revitalize east Victoria Park is underway, with the first projects taking shape under the Rivers District master plan (RDMP) that was passed by city council in December 2018.

Led by the Calgary Municipal Land Corp. (CMLC), the plan spells out a vision of east Victoria Park as a cultural and entertainment centre with a residential component, fitting within the larger Rivers District that also includes the East Village.

For over 30 years, Excel Homes has been crafting homes with extraordinary style and attention to detail, winning numerous awards for its innovative designs.

But company COO Dean Campbell says that what really sets this homebuilder apart is its commitment to sustainability and the Built Green program.