Calgary and area's resale housing market is expected to continue to grow in the latter half of 2012, but at a slower pace than the first seven months of the year CREB® said in its mid-year update.

In an update of its forecast, CREB® said Calgary's resale housing market is expected to continue to grow but at a slower pace in the latter half of 2012.

Calgary, along with Toronto and Oshawa, was a "top contributor" to a 0.2 per cent increase in Canada's New Housing Price Index (NHPI) for June.

According to Statistics Canada, "improving market conditions" along with increased material and labour costs were the main reasons for the rise.

From energy efficient light bulbs to Net Zero neighbourhoods to cleaning supplies, ecological friendly products are making their mark with homeowners.

As far as eco-friendly homeowners go, CREB® HomeSmarts — an extension of the Go Green project — familiarizes REALTORS® with energy standards as well as allowing them to use green features as part of property searches for potential homeowners.

According to a report by Laurentian Bank Securities economic growth within Alberta and Saskatchewan is expected to outpace Canada's other provinces and territories.

The Provincial Monitor stated the two Prairie Provinces will be the driving force behind the national average while the central and eastern provinces will report a weaker performance than the national average.

The CanLearn Centre was the most recent $25,000 recipient of the CREB® Charitable Foundation's 25 for 25 program.

The CanLearn Centre and Calgary Learning Centre provides leadership, innovation and a wide range of services that help children, teens, adults and families struggling with literacy, learning and attention to difficulties.

Calgary's long-awaited west LRT line will transform the neighbourhoods that border its eight-kilometre stretch – and mostly for the better, city officials say.

Scheduled to open in early 2013 after first being approved in 1988, the $1.4 billion project will bring LRT service to an area of the city expected to grow from its current population of 105,000 to approximately 120,000 in the next 20 years.

In the midst of Historic Calgary Week (July 27 – Aug. 6) , one of the city's most influential buildings as far as the oil industry, and one of the most memorable for theatregoers, announced it is shutting its doors for good.

"The Uptown has made the business decision to cease operations of the Uptown Stage and Screen and Marquee Room and is vacating the Barron Building," said The Uptown Stage and Screen on their Facebook page Aug. 1.

Alberta has been a veritable hot spot of new residents lately with its strong economy and low unemployment rate.

"There's a reason why Calgary's CTrain has been feeling more congested lately; people have been flocking to Alberta," said ATB Financial economist Will Van't Veld.

Calgary's Avenue Magazine recently released its third compilation of Calgary's Best Neighbourhoods with the northwest community of Varsity taking the number one spot.

The magazine surveys its readers, asking them to share what is most important in a neighbourhood that makes it's residents want to remain living there.

When it comes to purchasing a first home, buyers have regrets – mostly that they took so long to do it.

In that sense, Bryan Backman- Beharry is your typical homebuyer. The 32-year-old Calgarian recently purchased his first home, a three-bedroom bungalow in the southwest community of Killarney, after renting a condominium in the downtown core.