Year of Construction: 1913

Address: 1732 13^th Ave. N.W.

Community: Hounsfield Heights/Briar Hill

Architectural Style: Arts and Crafts

The 1½-storey, Arts and Crafts-style Walter Hargrave Residence is unique for a couple of reason. Constructed in 1913, it is one of the oldest buildings in the northwest community of Hounsfield Heights/Briar Hill, a neighbourhood whose founding dates back to before the First World War.

When Robyn Regehr arrived for his first Calgary Flames training camp, projections were naturally guarded, given the extraordinary circumstances.

Duplexes, townhomes, and other attached homes are popular in neighbourhoods throughout Calgary, but demand for high-end attached homes is highest in the inner city.

The appeal of these homes, which are often priced around the $1-million mark, is not only premier finishings, but also the established and amenity-rich communities where they are located.

Abundance of options underlines the importance of setting priorities

A million dollars used to buy a lot of home for your money.

But what will $750,000 – $1 million get a homebuyer in Calgary today?

Stephanie Campbell, a REALTOR® with Kirby Cox & Associates, says the answer depends entirely on the home's location and your lifestyle priorities.

Brooke Barrett found the right home for her lifestyle, beside her "own private little library," in Marda Loop

After renting a small condo in a boutique building in Bankview for six years, Brooke Barrett was ready to take the plunge into homeownership. As a lawyer, she works long hours and wanted to find a maintenance-free home, close to a bevy of walkable amenities, including a library. Staying in the inner-city was also top of mind. She checked out townhomes and condos in Kensington and West Hillhurst, and considered the East Village, but in the end, she decided to make Marda Loop home, purchasing a new condo in the heart of the action on 33rd Avenue.

Historic West Hillhurst still embodies can-do spirit of its founders

Residents in the inner-city, northwest community of West Hillhurst cherish the values of yesteryear – community, connectedness, family friendly programming and volunteerism.

"There is such a great camaraderie here," said longtime resident Chris Koper. "There are so many older community members that love to tell stories that connect us to the past."

Could a laneway home be up your alley?

For some Calgarians, a laneway house is a realistic way to achieve the elusive dream of home ownership.

Laneway houses are fully independent, small-scale dwellings that face onto an alley, typically found in the backyards of existing homes. Often referred to as "urban cabins," they are an alternative way to add density to established inner-city neighbourhoods.

While the buzz around laneway homes might be new, the concept is not.

Nearby, quality schools are a must for many Calgary homebuyers

Tiffany Gaura wanted her two young kids to be able to easily walk to school without crossing a busy road.

In March, the family moved into the northeast, inner-city community of Bridgeland, two-and-a-half blocks away from the specialized Langevin School – a Calgary Board of Education (CBE) science school.

Meanwhile, Amanda and Jonathan Corson and their two-year-old son will move into a larger home in their Auburn Bay neighbourhood this November, just a short walk from the community's two new elementary schools – one in the Catholic school system, the other public.

"Whichever school he goes to, he should be within walking distance," said Amanda Corson, who is a teacher herself and who grew up walking to school.