On the northern edge of Okotoks, beside the pristine D'Arcy Ranch Golf Club, a new community is taking shape. D'Arcy, a master-planned community from Anthem United, will bring together people, popular amenities and natural beauty at the doorstep of the Rocky Mountains.

One of the fastest growing communities in the city, Evanston was designed with lifestyle in mind. Located on the city's northern edge and bounded by two major arteries – Shaganappi Trail and Stoney Trail – the community features easy access to the downtown core and the mountains.

"Evanston's vision was wide-open spaces and a place for families to grow and flourish. It was achieved by creating parks, soccer fields, green spaces and amenities right in the community," said Laura Field, marketing co-ordinator for Qualico Communities, the developer behind Evanston.

WestCreek Developments continues to make its mark on Calgary's suburban skyline with two new communities – Cornerbrook in the northeast and Wolf Willow in the southeast.

Location, location, location. "That's one of the top things that this community has going for it. Location and amenities," said Cindy Arevalo, co-area sales manager for Trico Homes's new townhome project in the Wentworth area of West Springs.

Bounded by Springbank to the west, Old Banff Coach Road to the north, Bow Trail to the south and 69th Street S.W. to the east, West Springs boasts easy access to the downtown core and the Rocky Mountains. With over 10,000 residents, it's a young and vibrant community where 97 per cent of the population is under retirement age.

When you buy a home, you're also buying the lot, so it's important to make sure you pick the right lot for your needs.

Ten minutes south of Calgary in the town of Okotoks, homebuyers and builders continue to buck the regional trend of declining housing starts.

In fact, the growing town of just over 29,000 people (based on the 2018 civic census) saw an increase in housing starts in 2019 that is expected to continue into 2020, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Some would say the town of Cochrane offers the best of everything. Nestled into the foothills, this picturesque community of just under 30,000 people offers untouched nature, beautiful mountain views and small-town appeal, in addition to a full suite of amenities.

The town's friendly vibe is attracting young families and downsizers alike, and many new communities are stepping up to meet the demand with a variety of innovative home designs.

Trico Homes recently introduced five new home designs that are garnering interest from a broad spectrum of buyers. The Gems Series, an enclave collection of 80 homes in the established northeast community of Redstone, features innovative architecture and interiors that stand out from the pack.

Brookfield Residential is renowned for creating communities that shine.

"We build communities for life – where residents can work, play and thrive," said Tannis Anstey, marketing manager for Calgary communities with Brookfield Residential. "At the core of what drives us is how we can contribute to someone's sense of belonging and quality of life."

Dual-master homes occupy important niche in Calgary market

Dual-master homes aren't a new phenomenon in the Calgary market, but they have long been popular among a growing cross-section of homebuyers whose needs cannot be met by a standard three-bedroom layout.

According to Wendy Jabusch, president of the Canadian Home Builders' Association-Calgary region, Calgary homebuilders have been building dual-master suites for roughly a decade, primarily in smaller home offerings.

"They would typically be in the small single-family homes, townhomes and that kind of thing," Jabusch said. "Certainly, in the apartment product, we've seen dual-master bedrooms for many years."