*CREB®Now real estate news luxury feature*

Hot and haute rides complete today's million-dollar mansions

The extravagance of Calgary's luxury listings, inevitably, comes down to the details – the crystals in the chandelier, the velvet in the carpet and the pixels on the big screen. After all, achieving affluence in the home means striving for perfection.

Yet ironically, this feat is most commonly being discovered in the garage, where petroleum princes are going hand in hand with today's palatial palaces.

*CREB®Now real estate news luxury feature*

Calgary's prosperity driving demand for high-end housing

While the final tally won't be in for a few more months, it appears Calgary's luxury homes market is on the verge of the best year in the city's history.

According to CREB®, 611 homes priced at $1 million or more have sold through the first eight months of 2013. That number includes a record-setting 69 properties sold in August alone, which broke the previous record of 64 .

Many Albertans yearning for that rural experience

As Alberta's major cities continue to grow, it would appear more people are being drawn in by the urban experience.

Yet many Albertans are still choosing the prairie skies over city streetlights. Perhaps unfathomable to urbanites, these rural dwellers are all too willing to cast aside conveniences of the "big city," and instead stake their claim in the hills, prairies and valleys of Wild Rose Country.

"I enjoy the opportunity to do what I want, within reason," said Ray Howell, who's lived on an acreage west of Calgary for the last 22 years. "We have a large garden and have had many animals throughout the years. Overall, you have more freedom to do what you want."

Importance of education system cast into spotlight with academic results survey

In the real estate world, the phrase "location, location, location" often arises. Referring to the amenities around a home rather than the home itself, having a good school nearby is often near the top of the list for many buyers.

"The most important thing for me was not that there was a school, but that there were several nearby schools," said northwest Calgary resident Pamela Haskell. "Because there is so much specialization with programs and charter schools, I didn't want to count on having a school available only to see it become [an immersion school] the next year. A few schools in the area opens up the choices."

Spectacular summer, PGA event, cast spotlight on Calgary's golf communities

After last summer brought with it plenty of heartbreak and hardship, it goes without saying Calgarians have earned the enduring warmth seen this  season. And what better way to celebrate the soaring temperatures than by sending a ball soaring down the fairway?

Boasting a bevy of neighbourhoods designed around the benefits of living along the links, golf communities in and around the city cater to duffers and non-duffers alike by offering a beautiful backdrop for both recreation and relaxation.

Calgary's 'vibrant' inner-city a popular attraction for many

They say it's a place you can go when life is getting you down. A place that has movie shows and little spots to go. In the words of songstress Petula Clark, downtown is where you forget all your cares.

While Clark may not have been referring to the city we call home, the growing popularity of Calgary's inner-city communities stand as proof she was on to something.

Lake communities offer waterside fun in the sun

Vanessa Verkley needs little encouragement to grab a towel and head to the lake these days.

Like other Calgarians, the Auburn Bay resident has been feeling the heat of the second hottest July in seven decades.

Calgary's park communities bringing a little nature to your own backyard

When searching for the ideal home, a few key area selling features come to mind, notably access to major roadways, proximity to schools and potential for greenspace.

That's no problem for Calgary and its communities, which boast more than 10,000 hectares of parkland and almost 800 kilometres of pathways.

Making a home in the scenic and close knit communities of Priddis and Bragg Creek

Boasting some of the world's most beautiful backdrops, Bragg Creek and Priddis offer a veritable cornucopia of mountain-view amenities for local residents.

Bragg Creek's history traces back to 1885 when the area was first homesteaded by brothers Albert and John Bragg. At first, the winters were too harsh for settlers who arrived there. Yet for those who prevailed, trade with the local Nakoda First Nations was fruitful at the original Bragg Creek Trading Post.

Historic Albertan town a stone's throw from Calgary, chock full of community spirit

Strathmore's roots dig deep into Alberta's history.

In 1883, during the eastward construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the tracks ended at a small hamlet. That hamlet would come to be known as Strathmore, reportedly named by Scotsman James Ross, who was in charge of the rail project.