It's the biggest investment we are ever likely to make, yet too often buying and selling a home comes with a bunch of misconceptions about making the most of that investment.

Len T. Wong, broker/owner of RE/MAX Len T. Wong and Associates, chalks these misconceptions up to a lack of information, rather than any fundamental misunderstandings about the buying and selling process. Providing that education to the client, he says, is the role of an experienced REALTOR®.

Here are the top five buying and selling misconceptions Wong has seen throughout his 25-year real estate career:

Planning is crucial to a smooth and successful move

You've found the home of your dreams, made an offer and, eventually, sealed the deal – now it's time for the big move.

While moving day can be a stressful time, some advance planning can make the process run as smoothly as possible, while limiting the likelihood of unpleasant surprises.

First of all, you should know how to deal with a situation where the previous owner has saddled you with a dirty house or left-behind furniture on possession day.

That is the question, but there is no easy answer that's right for everyone

It's an age-old question that still gets hotly debated, particularly by young adults who are determining where they are going to live: should I rent or should I buy?

It's not an easy question to answer, and there are no clear right or wrong answers.

"One of the big things to contemplate is your time focus, because when you do buy a home, it is a long-term commitment. It does involve a five-year mortgage that's amortized over 25 years," said Tim Gensey, a market analyst with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) in Calgary. "On the other hand, renting allows you to be a lot more flexible. You have to really consider where you are in your life and what your needs are.

Professional legal help can benefit any real estate transaction

Buying or selling a home is a process that benefits greatly from professional help, and that especially true on the legal side of things.

Calgary Legal Guidance (clg.ab.ca) has information on selling and buying real estate in its Dial-A-Law series, including the role a lawyer plays.

Jeffrey Kahane of Kahane Law Office in Calgary says most people don't get a lawyer involved until the conditions of a sales agreement are waived, "because then you've got a firm deal."

Talking everything from what makes a great community to the favourite room in her house

What defines a great place? A mix of housing? A popular neighbourhood haunt? Walking and biking paths?

CREB® recently sat down with Eleanor Mohammed, president of the Alberta Professional Planners Institute and a director for the Canadian Institute of Planners, which organizes the annual Great Places competition. Here's what she had to say:

CREB®Now: Tell us a bit more about the Great Places competition?

Buyers, sellers encouraged to do their research before picking a real estate professional

Purchasing a home will be one of the biggest financial decisions most of us will ever make in our lifetimes. Getting it right can mean the difference between moving into your dream home and living in a house of horrors.

Whether a first-time buyer/seller or not, the first step is to find the right real estate professional or service to help you on your journey to homeownership, said CREB® president Cliff Stevenson. A good place to start is through referral.

"If there was an analysis done on the largest referral source, it's probably from people you know and come across. It's word-of-mouth referral," said Stevenson, adding online searches are also important tools for buyers and sellers when looking for a real estate professional or service. "But they're looking for some type of social proof and social validation out there as well."

What you should consider before listing your home

A smart seller knows that there is work to be done before listing a property. When you're up against a buyer's market, diligence is required in order to gain a competitive advantage. Curb appeal will translate value to potential buyers when they view your property.

Here are five things to consider before taking your property to market:

1. Take a look from the buyer's perspective

Give the house and yard (all things within the scope of property) an honest aesthetic assessment. Within the first few moments of viewing a property, a buyer has formed either a negative or positive biased.

Slowdown welcomed by new home industry

Local homebuilders and developers say they are heading into 2016 feeling positive after going through a year that brimmed with economic challenges.

"It's definitely been an interesting year," said Wendy Jabusch, president of the Canadian Home Builders' Association – Calgary Region and a vice-president with Brookfield Residential.

In particular, housing demand fell sharply in 2015 as the provincial economy sputtered through an oil patch slowdown that eventually led to pronounced job losses.

John Harrop talks about what's in store for 2016

Affordable housing emerged as a pressing topic in Calgary this year, as housing prices, rents and vacancy rates challenged people's access to shelter. In fact, wanting to find a solution to the city's growing housing affordability is what drove John Harrop to his new role as president and CEO of Attainable Homes Calgary Corp.

CREB®Now had a chance to sit down with Harrop to discuss everything from the economy's impact on affordable housing to what goes into creating the perfect community. Here's what he had to say: