How do property taxes work anyways?

Calgary's Smarter Growth Initiative - a collaboration between the Canadian Home Builders Association - Calgary Region and the Urban Development Institute - created an informational video to answer just that.

Calgary demographics influence housing

Calgarians, characterized in a recent report as among the youngest in Canada, are altering the city's housing landscape through a unique set of needs and wants, including a more diverse rental market, work/live spaces, home offices and multi-generational housing.

In its recently released The Changing Face of Calgary report, Urban Development Institute – Calgary and the Canadian Home Builders' Association – Calgary note the median age in Alberta (major urban centres) is a nation-low 36.5 years, and as the "population bulge trends toward youth, housing needs shift."

The Government of Canada is giving financial support to the Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA) for their Get It In Writing! campaign.

The campaign raises awareness about the safety and financial risks the public face if they  participate in the underground economy by purchasing construction or home renovation services under the table. It provides consumers and home renovation contractors with tools and information to discourage and reduce participation in the underground economy.

Not only is Wayne Copeland the president of the Canadian Home Builders' Association - Calgary Region, he's also a hockey coach and die-hard Flames fan. Copeland took some time out of his busy schedule to chat with CREBNow about oil prices affecting the city, a potential merger between CHBA and the Urban Development Institute (UDI) and what Calgary's best-kept secret has to do with Edmonton.

CN: How has the price of oil affected Calgary's new home industry?

WC: Certainly, it has affected us. When consumers hear anything negative, they curtail their confidence in spending rather quickly. Sales in January were off from recent years, but we remain optimistic as we are also hearing that showhome traffic has maintained a decent pace.

We understand that consumers will be a little slower in making large purchases but that does not mean that they have stopped buying altogether. I do believe that it is still too early to make any assumptions of what our economy will look like for this year, but we are definitely keeping our eyes on the energy market.

The Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA) recognized CHBA – Calgary Region with a community service award for their efforts during the 2013 flood.

The award is meant to recognize outstanding contributions made by local and provincial home builders' associations to the betterment of the way of life for the people in their community.

With the completion of the SAM Awards March 29, Morrison Homes emerged as Builder of the Year for 2013.

For the last 27 years, the awards — an event of the Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA) — have celebrated Calgary and area's construction industry with this year's event seeing a record 776 submissions from various members.

The 27th annual SAM Awards will be presented this month by Canadian Home Builders' Association – Calgary Region. Celebrating innovation and excellence in the Calgary and area's residential construction industry, the full list of finalists for the 2013 SAM Awards have been announced.

The SAM Awards Gala takes place on March 29th at the Telus Convention Centre, where the top five entries in each category will be featured.

The Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA) National SAM awards have announced the list of finalists.

The awards celebrate excellence in new homes, home renovation, innovative technology and construction, outstanding presentation and marketing across Canada. This year the 23rd CHBA SAM awards will be presented in Whistler, BC at the association's 71st national conference on April 4, 2014.