According to a new report from the Conference Board of Canada, any fears of a housing bubble in the country are "exaggerated".

The report, Housing Briefing: Bubble Fears Overblown takes a look at Canadian home prices which might be headed for a decline across the country, but eases any fears of a housing bubble.

With the options for some first-time homebuyers growing more restricted, buyers are waiting a little longer or spending a little more to find the home of their dreams.

According to a new report from BMO, first time homebuyers in Calgary were more willing to increase their budget than anywhere else in Canada with 54 per cent of Calgarians prepared to spend more. As a result, buyers are also expanding their search to include a greater range of properties.

There is confusion among new gardeners when it comes to growing plants from seed. Can you really use toilet paper rolls to start seedlings? Sure – if you have a stack of them on hand and don't mind them falling apart just when you need them to hang together.

How about seeding into eggshells? Fine, if you buy jumbo free-range eggs. Some of the regular eggs are so fragile, it's difficult to get them out of the fridge without crumbling the shell. Free-range eggs are usually tough enough but are they big enough? A small container such as a tiny eggshell needs to be misted and watered continuously.

The fact that the words spring and cleaning have become nearly inseparable doesn't make the task any easier. Nor does it make it any less avoidable. Just as the changing of the seasons signals a return to warmer weather, it also indicates to those that have spent the winter months slumbering that their excuses have evaporated away along with the snow.

Needless to say, the task of tackling months of neglect in one afternoon or even a long weekend is far easier said than done. While it might seem very little work went into getting things to a state of disarray, undoing all that neglect can prove to be a monumental task. However, with a plan in mind and a little elbow grease, even the biggest jobs can be accomplished.

For those who've had their fill of the hustle and bustle of the big city and yearn for a different way of living, perhaps it's time to embrace the option of acreage life.

With Calgary surrounded by wide open prairies, rolling foothills and the majestic Rocky Mountains, opting to live outside city limits has some obvious advantages.

Debbie LeBlanc has spent the last 25 years living on an acreage between Cochrane and Calgary. Having previously lived in Calgary, LeBlanc says the move was encouraged in large part by the ability to be closer to the great outdoors.

Alberta's housing market continues to hold top spot in all of Canada, sitting "head-and-shoulders" above the rest of the province in several economic categories.

The province's place at the top of the national outlook is the topic of a recent release from BMO Capital Markets, which points to employment, wages and interprovincial migration as the biggest reasons for the province's prosperity.

Chestermere's Town Council has approved the master area structure plan for the 2,400 acre Waterbridge Development in West Chestermere.

"After extensive review and hard work by all involved, we're excited to see the plan for Chestermere's West side take place," said Chestermere Mayor Patricia Matthews. "We expect future plans, including the large commercial area in phase one, will be reflective of Chestermere's unique character and anticipate we will be seeing those plans quickly."

As costs keep increasing to provide infrastructure to new communities, the City of Calgary is considering re-evaluating the feasibility of creating new communities.

A proposed plan was announced by the city's finance committee recommending that Calgary concentrate new infrastructure between 2015 and 2018 to two undeveloped sectors in Calgary's northeast and deep southwest.

Contained within the City of Calgary's Municipal Development Plan, the phrase "The city will face significant capital and operating shortfalls over the next 10 year period if it continues to provide the same services, in the same way, with the same revenue" sets the stage for a significant debate.

Alberta, along with British Columbia, posted the largest national advances in building permits in January, mainly as a result of higher construction intentions for residential buildings. Led by a 31.6 per cent increase in residential construction permits, the total value of permits issued in Alberta in January was $1.7 billion, a 31.6 per cent increase over December.

Residential building permits in the province jumped from $825 million in December to nearly $1.1 billion in January, a new all-time high.