Canmore's sizzling real estate market is about to get a welcome influx of new product for interested homebuyers.

Two new proposed phases of the 600-acre Silvertip resort development, perched atop the slopes to the east of the TransCanada Highway, will include more than 100 luxury tourist homes.

More than a year after it began, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spark increased interest in Alberta's recreational property market, as homebuyers seek an escape from congested cities.

Long-term remote work, which has been a reality for many Albertans for the last 12-plus months, has also made people realize that if they can work from anywhere, why not work from a cottage, cabin or waterfront property?

With demand for mental health supports skyrocketing in Alberta during the COVID-19 pandemic, the launch of the Foothills Hospital Home Lottery couldn't come at a better time. Proceeds from this year's lottery will go towards enhancing urgent and critical mental health services in the province.

Right now, there's no way to describe Canmore's housing market other than "hot."

"I'm always hesitant to use that word because you can't paint everything with the same brush, but the statistics don't lie," said Rob Stevens of RE/MAX Alpine Realty.

It's still only October, but thanks to COVID-19 and Calgary's fickle weather, it's time to start planning for winter. After a summer full of park picnics, patio meals and backyard hangouts, the arrival of cold weather and the wet stuff will require a pivot to winter-appropriate outdoor activities. And if the rush to snag home fitness gear and bikes this spring/summer was any indication, equipment for traditional winter sports might soon be hard to find.

Here are a few ways you can stay active and social in and around Calgary this winter:

Multiple offers, steady prices and lower inventories: the 2020 summer recreational property market in Western Canada is not what you might expect in the midst of a global pandemic and economic downturn.

During the summer months, it's always nice to be able to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a little R and R – whether for a few weeks or only a weekend – which is why the idea of owning a vacation property is so appealing to many Calgarians.

Thankfully, there are no shortage of options here in the province for vacationers of all stripes.

The Bow Collection

This grouping of eight exclusive duplex-style homes, located in the sought-after community of Three Sisters, sits adjacent to the Stewart Creek Golf Course. Wrap-around decks, double-attached garages, landscaped yards and no maintenance fees make these homes extremely desirable. Prices start at just under $1 million.

A type of Canmore real estate whose popularity and profitability had plateaued is reaching greater heights thanks to new economic trends.

Hotel-style condominium units in Canmore have seen their rental potential soar thanks to online listing websites like VRBO and Airbnb, providing another vacation-booking option for visitors to the increasingly popular region.