Year one of COVID-19 pandemic brought sweeping changes to Calgary real estate and the way business is done

Enticing discount mortgage rates have helped put Calgary's detached home market in rare form.

As governments and individuals around the world work to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, it has become clear the epidemic will have far-reaching impacts for Calgary's residents, businesses and economy.

Impact of new mortgage rules on Calgary housing market remains uncertain entering 2018

A new Canada-wide stress test for people applying for uninsured mortgages is leading to uncertainty among experts about the possible effects on the Calgary real estate market in 2018.

The federal government's new B-20 guidelines, introduced on Jan. 1, set out a new minimum qualifying rate or "stress test" for mortgages. Borrowers must qualify using the five-year benchmark rate published by the Bank of Canada, or the contractual mortgage rate plus two per cent – whichever is greater.