Provincial decline led the country

Spending on new residential construction in Alberta totalled $738.3 million in April, down from the $1.025 billion seen the previous April, according to the latest numbers from Statistics Canada.

The 28 per cent decline was the largest fall of any of the provinces, with decreased investment occurring in all dwelling types – although the decline was mainly due to lower spending on single-family dwellings.

In total, spending on new housing construction decreased in five provinces in April. Alberta was followed by Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Index drops by 1.2 per cent in May

After a period that saw Calgary's vacancy rates at virtually zero and rents among the highest in Canada, renters in the province's two largest cities are now seeing the outcome of Alberta's economic downturn in the form of lower prices, according to a new report.

The latest data from the Consumer Price Index shows renters in Alberta's two major cities might be getting a break. The May 2016 index in Calgary has dropped by about 1.2 per cent from the peak it hit in September of last year. Rents in Edmonton have dropped by 0.3 per cent.

Housing officials cite increasing rates of overcrowding in Calgary's housing market

Housing experts say a soft labour pool brought upon by weak economic conditions is partly to blame for increasing rates of overcrowding, or "underhousing" in Calgary homes.

RESOLVE executive director Sheryl Barlage – whose organization is made up of nine partner agencies aimed at building affordable and supported rental homes for 3,000 homeless and vulnerable Calgarians by March 31, 2018 – says about 3,500 Calgarians were considered homeless in a recent Homeless Foundation survey, with about 14,000 at risk of homelessness – and that doesn't include people "couch-surfing."

With the economic downturn, "we know fundamentally that number is up. It's hard to get a handle; people are one paycheque away (from homelessness) or aren't in appropriate housing. And the current economic climate (as well as) social issues are impacting the need. But the need has always been urgent."

Five tips on how to add some wow factor to your outdoor space

It is possible to plant your balcony using leftover plastic containers and old grocery bags. That said, it is also possible to wear old coffee sacks as clothing.

If you want beauty on your balcony or your body, plan ahead and look for the right pieces to make a statement because even a small space deserves to be beautiful.

Here are five tips to boost your balcony's beauty this spring:

1. Cover the balcony floor

If you have old, tired outdoor rugs or a concrete balcony, laying outdoor floor decking can quickly change the ambiance. Outdoor floor decking can be cut to size to fit your space. It doesn't need to be glued down, so it is easily lifted for winter or when you move. If your balcony is the same size of a woven plastic rug, skip the wood floor and buy a new area rug to cover the existing surface.

Residents highlight best-kept secrets in M.D. of Foothills

Directly south of Calgary lies the Municipal District of Foothills, a scenic area replete with expansive landscapes featuring rolling hills and ranch lands.

Home to several growing communities – including Okotoks, High River, Black Diamond and Turner Valley – the historic region is also the setting for its fair share of hidden gems.

CREB®Now chatted with several regional leaders to get their takes on some of the district's best-kept secrets. Here's what they had to say:

Housing professionals say upscale communities such as Heritage Pointe showing staying power

The lure of the luxury lifestyle is still drawing homebuyers to exclusive communities in and around Calgary despite some challenges in the local economy, say industry professionals.

Albi Homes community manager Amy Koehn notes Artesia in Heritage Point south of the city, for example, "is one of our busiest communities. It's very consistent and there's a lot of traction with the product here."

Koehn cites the community's lower density and larger lot sizes as motivators to buy in upscale communities such as Heritage Pointe.

Builders busy in surrounding region

Homebuilders and developers continue to be active in the surrounding area, with a number of new, highly anticipated communities under various stages of development.

CREB®Now takes a closer look at several noteworthy projects currently underway:

Harmony in Springbank

Harmony, located west of the City adjacent to the TransCanada Highway, is a joint-venture management partnership between Bordeaux Developments and Qualico Communities. The master-planned community will not only have 3,500 homes when all is said and done, but will also have its own village retail core and a large lake and wetland area.

Former CREB® president Patti Beaudry recalls city's fast pace in 1997

Former CREB® president Patti Beaudry recalls 1997 as a bright spot in Calgary's real estate history, in which resale housing activity and prices hit then peak levels and the city's population experienced a newfound surge.

The economy was vibrant, with new jobs bringing newcomers to the city by planes, trains and automobiles, recalled the 35-year real estate veteran, who guided the organization's board of directors through its boom year. By year's end, the city's population gained 3.3 per cent to 934,300 compared to 2.4 per cent growth the year prior. Three years later, it hit the once-mythical one-million mark.

Calgary's housing market at the time illustrated the impact of this new wave of new residents. Sales in the resale residential sector jumped more than 20 per cent to 18,423, while prices surged by more than six per cent to $146,788, according to CREB®.

To guide Town for next 20 years

Okotoks has launched a new parks and recreation initiative that it hopes will guide planning efforts for the growing community south of Calgary.

The master plan is designed to provide an overall framework to guide the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of parks and recreation programs, services, and facilities for the next 10 to 20 years.

"Parks and recreation are important services that help us enjoy a great quality of life in Okotoks. The Recreation, Parks and Leisure Master Plan is a key initiative to help us effectively plan for the future of these services," said Mayor Bill Robertson.