As more homes are equipped with "smart" technologies for everything from surveillance to home automation, the real estate purchase process is changing.

Home sellers are increasingly using video and/or audio surveillance to eavesdrop on potential buyers, using the information gleaned as leverage. This places the buyer at an obvious disadvantage during negotiations.

Are you a prospective homebuyer? Onto your second or "forever" home? Whatever your situation, preparing for homeownership requires you to arrange your finances so you can put your best foot forward dealing with your mortgage, taxes and home maintenance.

Before you start the process of looking for a home, consider the following:

Believe it or not, winter is coming. Ensuring that your home's cold-weather systems are running efficiently will save you both money and major headaches in the long run. Work your way through this fall home maintenance checklist and you can rest easy knowing that your home and yard are ready for winter:

Whether you own a home or you're looking to buy, the kitchen is the lifeblood of the house. Not only do we cook, prepare food and eat in our kitchens, but we also spend quality time in them. Ever notice where the group congregates at a party or where people go first when they enter the house?

Preparing your house for sale can be a daunting and overwhelming task, whether you have lived in your home a few years or many. The longer you've lived in your home, the more things you will have acquired.

It's necessary to take a step back and recognize that this is no longer your home, but rather an investment for your future. You want your home to have broad buyer appeal among members of your target market. Remember, most people want to move into their new home without having to make updates to it.

Here are 10 home-staging tips to save you time, money and energy:

If you're wondering whether it's the right time to say goodbye to your family home and downsize to a home more suitable for your lifestyle and needs, consider these scenarios:

Community, sustainability and design.

These are the pillars of the Ivy, Brookfield Residential's innovative townhome project in the 200-acre University District.

Brookfield Residential is renowned for creating communities that shine.

"We build communities for life – where residents can work, play and thrive," said Tannis Anstey, marketing manager for Calgary communities with Brookfield Residential. "At the core of what drives us is how we can contribute to someone's sense of belonging and quality of life."

Finding a home you know you can live with can be difficult.

Whether it's a brand-new house from a builder or a resale home, there are a number of things you should look for.

Q Condominiums, a groundbreaking new northwest project from Morrison Homes (Calgary Multi) Ltd., officially broke ground on Tuesday, June 18^th. Q Condos is located in the retail development of Sage Hill Quarter and brings a vibrant condo concept - never before seen in the city's northwest - to the heart of Symons Valley. Focused on encircling the residences amongst a unique selection of businesses, Q Condos will place homeowners next door to trendy coffee shops, banks, health facilities, a Shoppers Drug Mart, and a state-of-the-art Co-op grocery store.