A spurt in Calgary's population growth, plus a strong economy and rising home prices is starting to make its mark on the city's rental vacancy and in turn could mean changes for the housing market.

The average apartment vacancy rate in Alberta's urban centres decreased from 4.7 per cent to three per cent between April 2011 and April 2012, according to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Women More Likely to Purchase Home in Next Two Years

When it comes to homeownership in the next two years, women are more likely to purchase a home than men according to an RBC Homeownership Poll.

The poll found 49 per cent of women compared to 35 per cent of men are planning to buy a home in the next two years while overall, 51 per cent of women and 65 per cent of men already own a home.

Government tightens lending guidelines

With concerns regarding overheated housing markets and household debt levels rising nationwide, the federal government has enacted new rules governing mortgage lending and borrowing.

The biggest change, and the one most likely to have an impact on Canadian homebuyers, is the reduction of the maximum amortization periodfrom 30 years to 25.