Jackie and Michael Bernard stayed put in their first house as the community around them blossomed

When self-professed inner-city people Jackie and Michael Bernard purchased their 1,100-square-foot bungalow as a starter home in 1992, they thought they would stay for a few years, build some equity and then move to a larger home closer to the core. At the time, their home in the Lynnwood Ridge district of Ogden was "really far away" from the action and bustle of the downtown, but over the years, shopping destinations and several other amenities have popped up within minutes of this secret gem of a neighbourhood. As a result, the couple decided to stay put, making their starter home their forever home.

A new Symons Valley Ranch Market rises from the ashes

A project is underway to redesign and rebuild the Symons Valley Ranch Market, after a devastating fire roared through the historic building and iconic grounds in late January of this year.

"The market had become a real gathering point for the community," said Ken Aylesworth, the market's managing partner.

Movie and television set designer finds picture-perfect lifestyle in Marda Loop condo project

Amanda DuBois loves the walkable lifestyle. So when it came time to purchase her first home, the 25-year-old sought out an inner-city location, close to shops and restaurants. As a movie and television set designer, she occasionally works from home, so an office space was also on the must-have list. She looked at several condos, but was wowed by a 731-square-foot, one-bedroom-plus-den design in Sarina Home's Avenue 33 project in Marda Loop.

Commercial real estate investment represents unique set of challenges and rewards

Investing in commercial real estate could be considered the major league of real estate investment.
The skills required are greater, but so too are the potential rewards.

Greg Kwong, regional managing director for commercial real estate company CBRE in Alberta, says there is really no strict definition of commercial real estate – it can be a major office tower in downtown Calgary, a fourplex apartment building or anything in between.

Chestermere's local government gets a facelift, with new mayor and councillors on the job

In October's municipal election, residents of the City of Chestermere elected both a new mayor and an entirely new city council. The fact that no incumbents were re-elected would have been notable, except that in Chestermere's case, no members of the previous council chose to run again.

As a result, the new council is planning a fresh start for the community after several tumultuous years that saw rampant complaints from residents over utility rates that increased by more than 50 per cent in five years and property taxes that some homeowners claimed had doubled over the course of a decade.

Chestermere maintains its charm amidst rapid growth and development

When Toni Lynne Cousineau and her husband, Larry, moved to Calgary in 1996, they weren't familiar with the city. Even though they initially lived in Applewood Park, on the city's eastern edge, they did not know about Chestermere. "We didn't even know it existed," said.

It was through her employment with a local builder that Cousineau first discovered Chestermere, when she ended up working in a show home there. It was a case of love at first sight.

Flood mitigation efforts continue in the wake of 2013 disaster, but much still needs to be done

Apart from the cool uniforms, boy scouts are known for their motto: be prepared. In the wake of the 2013 flood, Calgary and the province are taking a page from the Boy Scout handbook and hoping to write a happy ending for homeowners.

"In preparing for future risks, we recognize that flooding is a complicated problem," said Frank Frigo, senior planning engineer with water resources for the City of Calgary and the City's leader of watershed analysis.

Foreclosed properties can be a bargain for savvy investors that do their homework

CREB® president David P. Brown offers a phrase of caution for those interested in purchasing a foreclosed property: "It's not for everybody. You get a home as is, where is."

One of the primary risks Brown identifies when it comes to purchasing a foreclosed property is that a buyer doesn't receive the same guarantees (e.g., that all the appliances are in working order) as with a regular sale.