Seven years ago, Vancouver-based interior designer Jamie Banfield wasn't really thinking about buying a new home. That all changed, however, when he and his partner were introduced to a two-bedroom-plus-den apartment for sale in South Surrey that they couldn't pass up.

There is one thing we often do by accident with houseplants in winter, and in my sister's case, it resulted in plant death when she tossed her plant out into the snow last week.

Overwatering kills houseplants.

Most of us remember mom reminding us to turn off the lights when we left the room or to make sure the door was shut properly when we came in from the cold. It turns out she was right.

With just a 10 degree drop below zero, a typical Albertan household could see their electricity consumption go up by about eight per cent and natural gas consumption go up by about 40 per cent.

As winter sets in, why not enjoy the cozy warmth of cooking with gas?

Whether it's creating a gorgeous new kitchen, rejigging a floor plan or creating a home from scratch, Vancouver-based interior designer Jamie Banfield is all about getting to know what makes his clients tick and translating that into a tangible design.

When it comes to fire safety in the home, properly functioning smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are the best early-warning systems.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFRA), 60 per cent of fire deaths at home occur in structures with no working smoke alarms or no smoke alarms altogether.

Alan Tennant - CREB® CEO

There is nothing to indicate a major shift in the current
trajectory. I see cautious optimism among the development sector – they are not overbuilding in any sector – and that is a healthy sign. It comes down to consumer confidence. We have two elections behind us, which could have been destabilizing but weren't.

Dear Santa,

It's me again. You know, that real estate geek who wants to know everything there is to know about the industry.