Much like Calgary, the bedroom community of Chestermere didn't escape the real estate market pitfalls of 2018. However, some experts say that the worst is over, predicting that as the spring of 2019 takes root, sunnier days lie ahead.

CREB®Now sat down with the mayors of Calgary's four primary satellite communities – Airdrie, Okotoks, Chestermere and Cochrane – to find out what makes their town or city unique and a great place to live.

Long-time Chestermere REALTOR® Marjorie McKay can't say enough about living in the small, friendly city on Calgary's eastern edge. "What a lifestyle," she said. "It's like resort living."

A rapidly increasing number of people are discovering Chestermere's allure. When McKay moved to the community 27 years ago, the population barely topped 900. Today, it sits around 20,700, with growth of just under two per cent last year.

New developments in surrounding areas limited price growth in 2017

When it comes to Calgary's housing market, there's a lot of activity on the outskirts and in surrounding areas.

"We have a number of new communities and areas with many new developments offering competing products for the resale market," said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

Chestermere's local government gets a facelift, with new mayor and councillors on the job

In October's municipal election, residents of the City of Chestermere elected both a new mayor and an entirely new city council. The fact that no incumbents were re-elected would have been notable, except that in Chestermere's case, no members of the previous council chose to run again.

As a result, the new council is planning a fresh start for the community after several tumultuous years that saw rampant complaints from residents over utility rates that increased by more than 50 per cent in five years and property taxes that some homeowners claimed had doubled over the course of a decade.

Jeff and Jessica Huynh found their forever home in Calgary's eastern neighbour

When it came to finding their forever home, sussing out a family friendly community that offered a healthy, outdoor lifestyle, and was close to family and amenities, was top of mind for Jeff and Jessica Huynh. The Huynhs had been living in Coventry Hills in Calgary's northwest. They enjoyed the neighbourhood, but with two young children, the couple wanted to be closer to family who live in Calgary's northeast areas of Pineridge, Coral Springs and Marlborough.